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4
GENERAL
</)nldiiu.
Off.
Jt^
«
HISTORY AND COLLECTION
OP
VOYAGES AND TRAVELS,
«
ARRANGED IN SYSTEMATIC ORDER:
FORMING A COMPLBTB HISTORY OF THE ORIGIN AND PROORK88
OF NAVIGATION, DI8COVBRY, AND OOMlf BRCK,
BY SBA AND LAND,
FROM THB EARLIEST AO':8 TO THE PRESENT TIME.
BT
ROBERT KERR, F.R.S. & F.A.S. EDIN.
"ti ILLVfrTRATfiD BT MAPS AND CHARTS.
VOL. IV.
WILIIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH:
AND T. CADEm LONDON.
MDCCCXXIV.
«»
.„;i_.i^Hi.^y-y<
C^l&l. M y.f-
ADVERTISEMENT
TO TBB
fOURTH VOLUME.
)i
•L WELVE months have now elapsed since the first
half volume of this work was offered to the public.
The favourable reception it has experienced gives
the Editor reason to hope that he has fulfilled the
engagements which he came under at its first ap-
pearance, and is a powerful inducement to continue
his utmost exertions to preserve and improve the
character of the work. In the four volumes which
are now published, several extensive and impor-
tant original articles are introduced, which have
not hitherto appeared in any similar collection, and
had not even been previously translated into English.
These materially contribute towards the ample in-
fonnation which was formerly announced, in the
Preface to the Jint Volume, as a leading object in
this Collection. In the subsequent parts of the work,
every effort shall be made to fill up its several divi-
sions with original articles of similar interest and
equal importance.
Encouraged by a satisfactory and. increasing sale,
the progress of publication has been somewhat has-
tened, beyond what was originally promised in the
Prospectus and Conditions; as the vahoU of the
fourth Volume is now published, at the period when
only its first half was to have appeared. It is in-
tended to repeat this anticipation occasionally, by
the publication of two numbers or half-volumes at
once, when opportunity offers. While this may
gratify one portion of our readers, it is not meant to
preclude others from continuing to be supplied, as
before, with the numbers or half volumes at regular
intervals, in their own option.
EoiMBUsaH, \a Jan, 1818.
3068734
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0 .Vi> ,
CONTENTS
Of
voi.iv:
1?AkfiL fiOOKn. COMttMTED.
'CHAP, V. ^toiy of thBdiscoTery ud coniiiMt of Med.
continiMd, ....
FMge
CO.
Sect. YI. The Spanfaudi commenoe theii^ narch
to Mexico {. with an aceonnt of the
-inur fci TfaMgeby end the submlidon
of thatnatiany • . id
yil. Eyentt davfaf^the in»rch «f the Spa.
oiardt from 7hucala to Mexico, %S
Ylil. Arrival of tN Spanlardi in M^xicoi. >
and tramactioD* ^re till the arriVal
of Narvaez to ■aperwde Cortes, 37
IX. Expedition of ^ervaes to supersede
Cortes in the cooiaand, and occur*,
rences till his defeat hjr Cortes, 70
X. Occnrrenoes from the defeat of Nar.
Tsez, to the expulsion of the Spa. .
niacds %oni Mexico, and the subset
qu^t battlfB of Qtumba, . 100
TLi. OccurrencM from the battle of Otum-
ba^ till the nuurch of Cortes to besiege
Mexico, .... 130
Xlh tiaasactions of Cortes and the Spa-
qiards, frpifi their march against'
Mexico, to the commencement of the
siege of ths« eity, . . . 134
^|IL NarfaitiTe of loiccunrenoes, from the
commcncepDent of the si^ of Mexi-
co to its rednctioni and the capture
. 9f CrWtUQotiiai - - 16S
1
■"yy
\
A
ooMmnnb
Vm»
9^^
-Oi
t5B«r» XIV. OcoamnoH in New SmId,
dktelj tulnequeiit to tae nductioa
of Mnico, • - 198
X^'f^^Mio4i >|iil>V)Cort0s to redaoe
the 'profiBcei of tSe Mexiam etapira, 908
XVI. Expedition of Gnnj to colonize Pa.
nnco, -.o -
XVII. NemtiTe of twrioui ezpfditioni for
tlNjNduetion -of diiierent proTinoea
inWewdptiii,
XVIIL N^odationi of Cortes at the court of
Spain,, fwpecting the conquest and
dOTemnent of Bwzlco,
^,^. . X|X. Of an expedition against thftZapotecas,
.u.:i r and TaHbos 'other oceurrfcicA/ -
XX. Narrative of tlie expedition of Cortes
to lligueras9. , • • - , ' > m
.hM ^o 'lLXhimnT^6TCdtt«i iti Mexico,^ and dc
currences tliere pretious to his de>
ibiKH^.j: . partnre for Europe, -
u.i) ib !•'! XXIL Nariraiive Of occttrrences, from the
nomiiaiim, H.i'i ..i. dbptetiife of Cortes to Europe till his
uMlby • » — ■ -
lU XXIII. Cottclttding obsertations by the An-
:V .^A'l'»^ iJ ;:; thoT,''"" "-■"'' "^M ,-
CHAP. VI* Ristolrjr of the disfeovery And conqiiest of Peru,
by Franeisco Pisarro ; written by Angus.
tino Zianite, treasurer of that Idngdom, a
few Tears after the conquest,
> Introduction, .
''^ SxcT. I. Of the discoTery of Peru, with some
• !* . account of the country and its inha.
• ; bitants, - ' . . -
II. TransacdonsofPixarroandtlieSpaniards
■ I in Peru, from the commencement of
the conquest, ' till the departure of
Almagro for the discoTery of Chili,
III. Occurrences from the departure of Al.
magro for Chiii, to his capture by
Pinrro, being the first part of the
citil'wars in Peru,
IV. ExpiBditions bf Pedro de Valdivia into
• Chili,* uiA of Odnzalo Pixarro to Los
'«•;.•..■■!! .Caiielbs^ • ■ -■
V.^ Conspiracy of the Almagrians and As-
aassidatibn of F$<arro, - - 4A2
316
331
334
341
8^8
383
895
310
338
ib.
335
378
415
443
'i%i^-' ,
98
i08
tl6
SSI
341
848
ttt
CHAP. YU. CoBtinaMlM of tlM wrij htotoiy «r ftni, after
ths tetk of FfweiMo PInrro, to tlie do-
foot of GhmMlo PInrro, aod tko lo^te-
MlibiBaot of tnaqoUUi^ in the cooDtrj;
written by Aofwtlao Zimto, 4iB4
%wn, I. From the mrlnd of the olvU.wMt ia
Pera, to tho cloee of the admintotniK
tioo of Vooi do Cutro, the fint go-
Toroor appolBtod from Spain, lb.
II. Comnenoenent of the Vioero^ty of
Bbuco Nanaen Vela, and rbnewal of
the ctfU war In j^ra by the uiorpn-
tlon of Gonsalo Piiarro, • 490
■tt
283
895
319
338
lb.
335
1378
115
152
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0£NE»AL HISTORY
Ain»
COLLECTION
■ • ■ •'■ 09
VOYAGES AND TRAVELS.
/ •-
PART II.
BOOK Ii: CQfNflNUED.
X-.*.
iji •>!
■■V.
HISTORY OF 9HK DlSGOt^t AKD COWgMat' t^T MtSdcO^
WBirrBN IN THE TEAR ISdS^ BT CAPTAIM ^BiWAl. tOUtt,
DEL CASTILLOy ONE OF THE e<nieVEROBSv-f>CSmtf>tHet{.
7%« ^nt*ar<& ammemx.^^ \Mtrek ta Me»ko% «i(ft ofi
account of the War in Tlasoaiay and the tubmissiott of that
Nation,
EV£RY thins beinff in readihea^ for our march to Mexico,
we were aonsed by our alHes of Chempoalla to proceed
. u| pf TlMcak, the iahidi^tB of that province besM in
m^wbill with th«n and constantly at war with the Mex>>
caiiii' and at our requisition, we were joined by fifty of the
prileipal warrisn of the Totanacas ', who likewise gave u«
, TOL.,IV. PART I. A 800
1 OiTigero up that Cortes had tome troop* of the Totaqacaa, among
whom were fortv.noblei, tervingat the same time.a>aiiiiUiRM»>«nd as
hostigei for the fidelity of thnr nation.'-ClaYig. II. so.
I
If
i»*
f,.v*t-^«.^;^..iV ■'
s.j»}i(|fti'>*ti'^*Mii:rj^^-C.,
«►•«.;
¥ f'i
Conquer tf Mexico
fAlfct II. BOOIC
tl.
i
■;
J
SOO tlamama, or men of burden, to draw our guQg and to
trannport our bag^p^. and ^munition \ Our first day's
nuurai on the 16tn m Aiiffust I5l9,"wa8 to Xalapan, and our
Mcond to Socochima, a place of difficult approach, surround-
0k by vines. During the whole of this march, the nwin
'"^body was kept in coynpact ' otdtr, being always preceded
by an advance of light infantry, and patroles of cavalry.
Our interpreters informed the people ol this place, that we
were subjects of the great emperor Don Carlos, who had sent
us to abolish humap sacrifices and various other abuses { and
as these people were allies of Chempoalla and independent of
Mtmtezuma, they treated us in a friendly manner. We
eiretted a cross at this place, explaining itH signification and
ffiving them information of many things belonging to our
nd^ faith, and exhortfnff them to reverence the cross.
F?om this place we proce«(i^,)i>y a difficult pass aniong lofty
mountains to Texotla, the people of which place were well
di^Kwed to us, as they also paid no tribute to MonteKuma,
Continuing our march throush desert lofty mountains, we
esqperienced excessive cold, with heavy tails of hail, and came
neasX day to a pass, where thene were some houses and large
ten^les, and great piles of wood intended for the service of
the idob. ' FroiMiions were scarce during the two last days,
ttid<we now approached the confines of the Mexiciah empire,
at a place caliod ^ootf/an ; to the cacique of whith place
Cortes sent a message informing him of our arrival. The
appearance of this place evinced that we were entering upon
a new and richer countnr. The temples and other buildmgs
were lofty, with terracea roo&, and had a magnificent ap-
pearance, being all plastered and white- washed, so as to re-
Msn^^some of our towm in Spain; on which account we
caJ^ this place Castel bianco.
In consequence of our message, the cacique and other
principal persons of the town came out to meet usj and con-
ducted us to our quarters, where they gave lis a veiy poor
aatertainment. Aftei^ supper, Cortes inquired respecting
the military power of Monteaittna, and was told that he was
able to bring prodigious armies into the field. Thedly of
Mexico was represented as of uncommon strength, hang
built op the water, with no commimicatioA between iIk^
/. •' Jtouses,
9 la QUvigsra, II. t9. the wmj of Cortei on thit oecsrioa U tlst«dmi
]|avensM^tdto4ls Spsaish inAuitrf sb4 iScavslry.— ]^. -
II
.(*»i-.-
•■■■l!i;?>->!Vf>i*I^*|lj^-*i-
•i-'*.
C^Apr^. SBCT. VI. ^ Hernando Cortes.
8
rM»
houses, except bv mieans of boats or bri^(es, eadi house be-
ing teitaced, and oi^ needing the addition of a parapet to
become a fortress. Tne only access to the citv was by means
of three causeways or piers, each of which had four or five a«
pertures for the passage of the waters, having wooden bridges
which could be raised up, so as to preclude all access We
were likewise informed of the vast wealth possessed by Moh-'
tezuma, in gold, silver, and jewels, which filled us with
astonishment ; and although the account we had already re-
ceived of the military resources of the empire and the inac-
cessible strength of the capital might have filled us with dis-
may, yet we were eager to try our fortunes. The caciqhe
expatiated in praise of Montezuma, and expressed his ap-
prehension of havinff offended him by receiving us into his
government without nis leave. To this Cortes replied, Tht^
we had come from a &r distant country by command of our
sovereign, to exhort Montezuma and his subjects to desist
from human sacrifices and other outrages ; addmg : ** I now
require all who hear me, to renounce your inhuman sacri-
fices, cannibal feasts, and other abominable customs ] for such
is the command of God, whom we adore." The natives
listened to all this in profound silence, and Cortes proposed
to the. soldiers to destroy the idols and plant the holy cross,
as had been already done at Chcmpoalla ; but Father Olmedo
recommended that this should be postponed to a fitter op-
portunity, lest the ignorance and barbarism of the people
might incite them to ofier indignity against that holy sym-
bol of our blessed religion.
We happened to have a very lafge dog along with us, which
belonged to Francisco de Lugo, which used to bark very
loud during the night, to the ^eat surprise of die native^
who asked our Chcmpoallan alkes if that terrible animal was
a lion or tiger which we had brought to devour them. They
answered that this creature attacked and devoured whoever
offended us ; that our guns discharged, stones which de-
stroyed our enemies, and that our horses were exceedingly
swift and caught whoever we pursued. On this the others
observed that with such astonishing powers we certainly were ^
tetdes. ^ Our allies also advised them to beware of practising
any thing against us, as we could read their hidden thoughts,
and recommended them to conciliate our favour by a present.
They accordingly brought us several ornamcnU of much de-
based goM, and gave us four women to mtke bread, and a
load
^^3**^
f Conquea tf MuHto pamt u. aooK^'ii.
had of myidcB. Near ■ome of the tenmle> bdqogiag to Uri>
plpce I Mw a vast number of human weletmis' iirnuund in
iqicji exact order that Uiey might easily be counted wiSi per-
ftct accuracy* and I am cortsdn there were above an hundred
thousand. In another part immense quantities of human
bones were heaped up in endless confusion. In a third*
great numbers of skulis were suspended from beams* and
^watched by three priests. Similar collections were to be seen
^erywhere as we marched through this district and the ter-
ritories of TIascala.
. ;0n consulting the cacique of Xocotla reenpecting the road
to Mexico, he advised us to go through Cbolulaj but our
allies stron^^y dissuaded us from that route* alleging that the
pwple w^ very treacherous, and that the tovm was always
(pociipied by a Mexican garrison* and repeated the former
advioe of going by Tiascala* assuring us of a friendly reception
|bqre* Cortes accordingly sent messoigers before us to llas-
jpaj^ announcing our approach* and bearing a crimson velvet
eap as a present. Altnouffh these people were ignorant of
writing yet Cortes sent aletter by his messengers, as it was
gQioruly understood to carry a sanction of the message which
!i^ to be delivered. We now set out for Tiascala, in our accus-
Umed.orderQf march, attended by twenty juindpal inhabi-
taiiti cif ^^<)cb|la. On arriving at a village m the territory of
^jdiidiWQ V where we received intell^nce that the whole
nation m the TIascalans were in arms to <^pose us* believing
]iis to be in alliance with their inveterate enemies the Mexi-
,cans* on account of the number of Mexican subjects who at-
ten'jed our army. So great was Uieir suqiicion pn this ac-
Gountt that they imprisoned our two messengers, ibr whose
tisbattk ^e waited two days very impatienuy. Cortes em-
plioyed ithe time in exhorting the Indians to abandon their ido>
ktty and to reconcile themselves to our holy church. At the
end of these two days, we resumed our inarch, acotmipanied
by two of the principid people of this place whom Cortes de-
manded to attend us* and we soon afrerwanis met our mes-
sengers who had joade their escape, either owing to the ne-
gligence or celimvance of their guards. These messengers
yfeve in extreme terror, as the pe^le of Tiascala threatened
to
9 In Qsvigero, II. 3i. htacmsxltlata u Mid to have been the next ttag*
after ISavinf Xocoitlki, and k deicribed aa a populoi^t i&brict, with a itn^
dtf or IbnrcN on s Ugh rock* defended bjr barbkaat and ditchet.—E.
tbi*
a in
per^
Jm
Oman
third,
» ai!^4
eaeen
leter-
eroad
It our ,
lat the
always
former
cepUon
oTlaB-
s velvet
rant of
18 it was
re which
raccus-
inhabi-
>ryof
le wnole
}lievin|^
J Mexir
I who at-
Ithis ttc-
whose
em-
leir ido-
At the
ipanied
^es de-
iur mes-
[the ne-
to
licxt itags
aitrotq;
-B.
&ut. ▼* sBtftt vt. 6jf ftirtkmdo Cortes^' K
to dertroy lis and every onie who should adhere to tu. Jli%
.battle was therefore to be expected, the stand«rd was ad*
vanoedtoihe front» and C!ortes instructed the oavahy to
chairge by threes to the front, never haltinB to git^ durpits
with their bnces, but uiging on at speed #ith oduche^ huraes
levelled at the faces of the enemy. He directed tltiem ibot
when dieir lance was seiied by the oiemy, to force it fir<Ha
diem by the eflRnts of the horse, fim^y ffhwpit^ the butt un<*
dertheanm At about two leagues from the laM restiuDg-
(dbce, we came to a fortification miilt of st«Mie and lim^, ex-
cdlentty constructed for defence, and so well ceraeiited thai
nothing but iron tools could make an impression on ft. W^
halted for a short time to exiunine this work, which had been
buik by the Tlascalans to drfend thdr territory against the
mcursionsof Adr Moucan enemies) and on Cortes ordcMltt
us to march on, saying, *< Gentlemen follow youir stiuftdara
tho h<^ cross, throu^ which we shall coiiquer )" we all re^
plied, ** Forward in the name c^Ood, in wfaMn is our bnty
confidettoek"
Aiber passing this barrier some distance, our ikdvalifiiid
jEilard descried tdtoUt Uuity of the Tlascalan troops, who had
Been sent to observe us. Gtrtes sent on the cavAhy to en-
deavour to take some of these men prisoners, while the iiifiul-
try advaneed at a quick pace to support the advanced guard.
Our cavaby inimediatelv attacked, but the Tlascalans de-
fended themselvea bravely with their swords, woundifug; 'some
of die horses severely, on which our people had to killfive <^
them, but were unable to make any prisoners. A body of
three thousand warriors now sallied out upon us with gtiott
fiiry from on ambush, and bcfian to discbarge their arrows at
our cavalry ; but as our artulery and musquetry were now
ready to war upon diem, we soon compelled them to give
way, though in a regular manner, and fighting as they re-
treated-, leaving seventeen of their men dead on the fidd )
and one of our men was so severely wounded as to die a few
days after* As^the day was near a dose, we did not attempt
any pursuit ; but contmued our march, in whitA we soon
descended from the hiHs into a flat country, thickly set with
iknn-houses, among fields of maize and the! Maguav plant.
We halted for the night on the banks of a brook, where we
dressed our wounds mth the grease of a Jot Inelian who- was
shitn in th6 skirmish ; and though the natives had carried
away aU their provisbns, we caught' their dogs when they
returned
GtmfiMif ff Maneo pabt ii* iMJo* it
f #
returned at night io the houies, and mide « corofi>7tdUe rap^
per of that unasual fiur& Next day, after recomuunidiqg our-*
M^es to Ood, we resumed our march a^inst the Tlaicallao
army { both cavaky and infantry being duly inetructed how
to act dben we came to battle { tne cavalry to chaige right
throu|^, apid the infantry to preserve a firm array. We soon
fell in with the enemy, to the number of about 6000 men in
two bq4ies, who immediately attacked us with great spirit,
discharging thdr arrows, shouting, and sounding their mar-
tial instruments. Cortes halted the army, and sent three pri-
sonei^ to demand a peaceable conference, and to assure them
we wished to treat tnem as brothers! ordering at the same
time the notary Oodoy, to witness this message cSHdally^ Thia
message had na effect, as they attacked us more fiercdy than
before, on which Cortes gave the word. Si Jago, and on them.
We jRooording^ made a furious onset, slaying many with the
first discharges of our artillery, three of their chieis falling on
this occasion. They now retreated to some uneven ground,
where the whole army of the state of TIascala, 40,000 m num-
ber, were posted unwerfcover, commanded hyXk<aencatl,ibm
general in chief of the republic. As the cavalry could not
act in this uneven ground, we were forced to fight our way
through as well as we were able in a compact column, assailed
<Hi every side by the enemy, who were exceedingly expert
archers. Th^ were all clouied in white and red, with de-
vices of the same cdours, beina the uniform of their funeral.
Besides the multitudes who discharged continual flights of
arrows, many of them who were armed with lances closed
upon UB while we were embarrassed by the inequality of the
ground i but as «oon as we got agjain into the plain, we made
a good use of our cavalry and artillery. Yet they fought in-
cessantly against us with astonishinff intrepidity, closing upon
us all around, so that we were in the utmost danger at every
step, but God supported and assisted us. While closely en-
vironed in this manner, a number of their strongest warriors,
armed with tremendous two>handed swords, mode a combined
attack on Pedro de Moron, an expert horseman, who was
charging through them accompanied by other three of our
cavalry, lliey seized his lapce and wounded himself danger-
ously, and one of them cut through the neck of his horse
with a blow of a two-handed sword, so that he fell down dead.
We rescued Moron from the epemy with the utmost diffi-
cidty, even cutting the girths and bringing off his saddle, bu t .
tieal"'
to
m
P«
at]
mi
an
ou
tot
thi
Jik
p«
the
thr
dkn
liow
right
MOD
en in
purity
mor-
Bpri-
tbem
same
Thii
f than
; them.
iththe
liiJgon
round,
inom*
a/l,the
uld not
ur way
luailed
cftAl*. v.- iBcr^ vf. , igf Bim0ndo QoHes,
t t
ten of ottrfiiinb«rw«rr wounded in the
lieve i^ lliMdew ten of their diiefiit while flgMMMilto
htttdtf'Thelf^ftt length bmi to reUre^ taUngwithtHBt tho
body W the horse; which Uiey cut in pieces, and di<tflbiitad'
through iiU;the diatricia of Tbooila w a trophy of ficCMy*'
M(MP6n died toon aftor of his wouiMlt» atieatt 1 have no i^;
nembrance of seeing him afterwards* After a, 'severe «nd'
dose conflict oi above an hoar, during which ourardUery'
swept down ntuititiides out <^tlie nmnerous and crowded bodiea>
of the enemy, they drew oflPin a r^jular manner, leavh^ the'-
fieid to u», who were too much fattfued to pursue. We took
up' our quarters, ^erefwe, in the nearest yilhget' named:
TeoatzincOf where we found numbers of subterranebnadweli*'
lings. This battle was fought on the 2d September 1519«'
The loss of the enemy on this occasion was very oooHderabl^J
eiffht of their principal chiefs being slain, but how roany^
others we krow notv as whenever an Indian is wounded or •
slain, he is immediately carried ofi^' by hi» companions. Flf^
teen of them were made pristmers, <n whmn two wera'chieft*'
Oh our side fifteen men were wounded, one only of whom>
(lled% As soon as we got clear of the enemy, we g»Y<» thanln^
to God for his merciful preservation, and took post in a strong^
and spacious temple, where we dressed our wounds withtho^
&t of Indians. We obtained a plentiftil supply of food fipom
the fowk and dogs which we found in the houses of the vil-
lagei and posted stnmg guards on every side for our securi^*
We oonUnued quietlv in the tenqsle for one day, 'to rmosoi
after the fatigues ot the battle, occupying oursdvet m repanring.
our cro8»»l)OW8, and making arrows^ Next day Ckirtea sent out
seven of our cavalry mth two hundred iniaiitty and aH our i^liea,-
to scour the coukitry^ which is very flat and well adapted foi^ the
movements of cAvalry, and this detachment brought in twenty,
prisoners, some of whom were women, wiUiout meetinff with
any injury from the enemy, neither did the Spaniards ao any
mischief { but our allies, being very cruel, made great havoc,
and came back loaded with dogs and fowk. Immediately on
our return, Cortes released all the prisoners, ofter^^ying them,
food and kmd treatment, desiring them to expostulate wUh^
their companions on the madness of resisting our arms. He
likewise released the two chiefs who had been taken in the .
preceding battle, with « letter in token of credence, denrihg
them to inform their oountrjnmen that he only asked, to, p^
through their country, in his way to Mexico. These cnisfa
waits^'
Cmipua qfUunto Mir ii* mos m^
L' cm XttkmaU^ mlHm.fnafwunmttd
»»; iwd deliverad the menunof jDarlci. Tb^lUi
tWTlM«ilalifpenMv«pli«d, ••Tdltttntog^toTlMcili,
when wethtlTgive thempeeoe faj oArintf tiwir hearts and
blood to Q«u; oods, ami fagr feeitiiig on thor bodiefe." After
what we had afreadv experienced of the number and Tahnw
of the enemy,>this homUe imswer, did not aflbid us mndi
oanaolatkmf but Cortei concealed his feacs, and treated the
messcngen more kindly than ever, to induce them to canj a
fresh inessage. By inquiiy from them he aot the foDowmg
account of-ue. number of the enemy and ofthe nature of the
rommand enjoyed by its general The army now qpposed
to US wmnsted of the troqpe or quotas of five greafc aiieft,
epch ccmsistinff of 10,000 men. These chieft were Xtcefow-
eatl the elder, ntl. to the general,. Masicatzinf Cki^imecO'
tede^ Teaqmneea tiMaque cTTtpe^ncOt and a cadque named
Gvaaocii^a*, Thus 60,000 men were now collected against
us under Ae banner of Xicotencatl, which was a wlnte bird
like an ostrich wiUi hsiwin^ spread out^ The other, divi-
aions had each its distidgmshimo; banner^ every cacique bear-
ing diese.GognisanoesIihe our l^aiiishildUeSjAcircsmstMioe
we could not credit when so informed hy our prisoners. This
Ibrmi&Jble intelligenoe dU not tend to hssoi the fears niiich
die' tBRiUe answer of Xicolttcatl had oocarioned, and we
fxrepared far the oqie^ted bitftle of the next day, t^ conies-
iing our sins to our revwend fiithers, who were ioccupied in
4>is lioh oiSce during the whole joi|^t '.
On toe 5tb of September, we marched out with our whde
force, the wounded not excepted, having our colours Aymg
and Buaitled by fauTiSoldiers appointed for that purpose. The
crosnowmen and mnsketeers were ordered to fire aitemately,
so
. 4 lnOvngtn,U. SI. Xieocentcatl Maxicatiab, it givca utde name
of on* chief < and only thru other lords or jreat caciquet are uid to have
th^ borne raray in the Tlaicalan republic^ Tiekul, Xolotzin, and Citlalpo-
titSa. Tht perMHn named Chichimccaticle by Diaz, u called ChichiBfieca
Tcudttfi by Clavigere i Bat it ii impoMible to reconcile the diSerencet be*
Miicta theae andiDra re«pectittg> the other nainca of the chieft, nor ia it ip-
. 5 C3«vi|evoi II. 27. aayi, the grand itandard of the republic of Ttaacala,
viad dnlhia o^caaioot vat a gtddni eagle with detank wiHpi.— £.
e i^yoiidbgto CUvigero, U-^t. Xicptciici«i ioAkiw Sow little he r«*
gattfed the Spaniard*, tent them soo tnriceyt and tvo huadnd hiaketa of
tameUh to recmit their strength before the approaching battle.<— E.
CNAA w^ 8ICT. IV. ^ Munmnio Cortes,
0
IP tlMlioiM of than miffht be thmy loadtd;. The MkUen
canyiqg Mv^inW aiMl bnchwn were directed to we Uteir poltiW
onhr, t|nnMCiiig hone thn»ag^ the bodies of the endny, bjr
vhidi Ihey wofo^ kie rapned to miMUe weapoo* i fthd w
e»vi^w«reaidcredtodiugeathelf ipeed* hnrdKng their
|nM» at the cgw^of the enemy, and ohanpiig dear mniii|g;li
vithout hakn^ to make thntrti. W^ had hahily roarahed
Iwlf a gutter of a lea^Be, wtwn we obwrved the whole ahny
of the enemy, covenng the jpkin on eroy side as fiu* aathie
m9 eouU reach, each separate body dtsimjrii^ its particular
jetjce or standard, and all advancing to the sound of mar*-
tiai mnsie. A mat deal might be said of this tnanendooa
imd hm donb&l birtde, in which four himdred of u«,'were
qopoeed to prodigious hosts, which surrounded us on tifegj
aiae,fi)lpngaU the plains to the extimt of two lewues; Their
4nt discharges of arrows, stones, and double-beaded darts
floveied the whole ground whidi we occupied, and th^ ad*
vaneed oontinuaUy till closed upon Us all around, attacJunff
us with the utmost resolution with lances and two-handed
swvNrds, encouraging each other by continual shouts. Our
artillery^ mnskstry, and cross<>boWB piled them> with incicssant
dischaiges, and made prodimous havoc amonff the crowded
masaes of the enemy, and the home thrusts ol owr infimtry
with their sworda, prevented them from closing up so near aa
tfiey had donein ^m former ba^e. Yet with all our eflbrts,
our battalion waa at one time oonqiletely broken into and sa^
parated, and all theexerdons of our general was fw some
time unable to get us again into order } at length, however,
by Uie diligent use of our swords, we forced ^m firom
among us, and were able again to dose our ranks* During
the whole battle our cavalry produced admirabJe cftcts, by
incessant chibrges trough the thickest of the enemy. Wc in
tome measure owed our saftty, under Ood, to the umrieldly
multitude of the enony, so that some of the divitiions could
i^ever get up to the attack. One of the grand divisions, com*
posed M the warriors dependant on Guaxoci^a, was prevent^
ed from taking any share in the battle by Chichemeeateele V
their commander, who had been provoked by sobm insalting
language by Xicotencatl reepectiag his conduct in the pre*
ceding
•Mill ?:> : . . . . ■ . ' ■_. ...
7 Caned the kmi of Chichiioecli Teuctli by Clavigero t periispe his awns
wu Gaaxocingt^ and Diaz, after a long interval of tinis,iranipoBed tbc^
' namies of the mher and eon.— E.
^ kfef J
0: !"
■S
It
Cm§mti ^M§nUo i>amt ii. nok ii.
9iA\ng tnpiftaMiil, of «rliMi flMmmUMioe we rNfhnd Mot» i
muioo •mnnurdk Tb* drannHMM* of thtit dhrkloM nolt
Joining in Uit b«tlli» ilidttmNl the Mdovr oldio mt« men
mptcialljr «f^r tlMy had mperitnctd Um twHUe cftoit of-
our oinuyt avtUlwyt and oUier oAmite wattpom i and on*
of their graalMt olUaA baing ldUed» tliey at langlh drew oil
from tha mht, and atere l^rwad to a sliort dManoa \ay oup
oavalryt in thia great lMttla« one only of our ■okUan waa
killadi but Mventy men and all our honea ware woumlcd* I
had two woundii one kw an arrow and the other by a atone,
but they were not tufflcient to make me unfit Ibr duty. Thui
again maitan of the flaM» ^f gnve thanks to Ood tor kit
mereiftil preaarvirfton» and returned to our former poit» Ant
burying our dead companion in one of the nubterraneoua
houaea, whioh waa filled up and kvelled< that hta body might
not be diaooverad by lh« enemv. We paned the enauing
night In a moat oomfbrtleaa aituationt not being able to nnii«^
euro even oil and mlt, and expoaed to exoeiaive cold winder'
from the anowy mountalni. ^
Cortaa aent a freth.n^eiMge by three of our priwnera and
thoae fdm had carriea hit fwnier menage, denuinding a free
paway to Mexico, and thriHitening to deatroy the whole
emintry in oaae of refusal. On their arrJTal at Tlascahi, they
finmd the chiefr much cast down at their repeated losses, yet
unadUng to liatan to our pronosak. Thcv sent for their
Sand wiaarda, who pretended to fbretd fUture evcnts<
ting kits, desiring them> to say if the Spaniards wero^
b, and what were the best means of conquering usi
likewise demanding whether we were hicn or superior beings,
and what was our Ibod. The wiaarda answOred, that we
were men like themselvca, subsisting imon ordinary food, but
did mit detour the hearts of otir enemies as had been report-*
ed I allsging that though invincible by day, we might be con*
quered at n^t, as we derived nil our power from the influ*
enoeof the sun. Giving credit tn this response, Xicotencatl
received ordera to make an immediate attack on our quarters
during the niglit* He marched accordingly with ten thou- •
sand warriors^ and made a mght attack on our post in three
phmeaat oncec But our outposts kept too good guard to be
taken by surprise* and we were under arms in a moment to
recavo them. They met with so worm a reception, that they
wwre soon forced to turn tlieir backs i and as it wos dear
Inowdight, our cavalry pursued them with great e£fect, so that'
ihcy'
CHAT, y, Mon ml. ^ tMtnumio CorUi.
II
difjr NlpnMd to iMr «im» liMrtilgr fifwiinf oC tlisir nighl
their nrltHifcrdapflviBsUiMitotMrlwit. InlMl^Mlioii
oneoiiljr of imrMMwMlUIMt fMtd^woflpmiMdtivoMNl-
adi bill oiur •ItuatioB ira« fiur firom ooDiolatorj. Bdidotb**
ing dmdfiilly ^uy'Vi lutfiMtd fay CitipM, w« hud Imt flft)r*Bt«
ofour loldkNni from iniundt» •JckiiiM, imd uiwHtj of tht «•»•
4her,'juid aev«ral wero lidu Our gemnd «od; Fathtr Ofanedo
were both ill of feven: And we begun to think it wou^ bo
impoMible for tu to retch Mwioot after the determineid ro-
eiitiuioe we had ecxperienced from the ThMCftleni,
In thii extremi^ several of the olAoertMid aoldiorei among
whom I was one* waited on Cortest and advised him to vdeaae
his prisoners and to make a fresh offiw of firiendriiip with the
Tlascalans throughthekepcople Hetwhoactedonalloccasioni
like a good captaiUt never failing to consult with us on aAirs of
importanoe» i^m^ wi^ our present advice* and gave orders
accordingly. Donna Marina, whose noble spirit and excel*
lent judgment supported her on all oocask>ns of dancer, wi^a
now of most ensentiai service to us, as indeed she <men was i
as she explained in the moat forcible terms to these messen-
gers, that if their countrymen did not immediately enter into
• treaty of peace with us, that we were resolved to march
aoainst their capital, and would utterly destroy it and their
^ole nation. Our messcnjo^rs accordingly went to Hascakt
where tbi^ waited on the chiefs of the republic, the principal
messenger bearing our letter in one hand, as a token of
peace, aud a dart m the other as a dgnal of war, as if giving
them their choice of either. Having delivered our resolute
message, it pleased Ooo to incline the hearts of these Has-
calan rulers ia enter into terms of accommodation wUb us.
The two principal chiefs, named Maxicatzin and Xicotencatl
the elder ", immediately summoned the other chiefs of the
republic to council, together with the cacique of Quaxocinoo
the ally of the republic, to whom they represented that all the
attacks which they bad made against us had been ineffectual,
vet exceedinglv destructive to uiem ; that the strangers were
hostile to their inveterate enemies the Mexicans, who had
been>
8 It has beta already neationed that Clavifiero writes thete two as the
names of one man, Xicotencatl Maxicatzin, informing n« that the latte^^
natae fignifies theelder.T-E,
IMM MDliiiiid^ •! wiragiiMl tbtir npnblie ibr opvmvb 6(
UkhmAnAjmnt mmI kid w iMOuatd tbam iq m to dipriW
llMai ol|Nf6ebring eoCtiM or tilt j «id tharafctv that it would
bs MgUf flMtdiicnr* to Ao intanitt of the nptoblio to attar
hito an alfiuMe with theio itraagen afirfnit thafar common
anauiaa, and to olbr ui tha dai^hten of thair ^rindpal
iamiliaa fbr wivwi in ordar to strangdiali and parpatnate the
aUiaDerbatwatti w. Tbia fwopoMd wai unatoimoudy agreed
Sthe oouncUt and notice waa immediately lent to the
of tMi determination, with oiden. to ceaie fircmi
«. Xieoteneatl wai mneh oftttded at this older, mA
inaiited on makiiw another noctomal attack on our qiiarten*
On laamiog tbi* detennbiation of their generalt die oinnidl
ofTlaieala lent orders to wpetwde him in the command, bat
die c^ttoina and warrion or the army refoied obedience to
this oraer, and even pre»entotf fiwr of the principal chielb of
the re|HibClc ftom waiting apm us with an uiTitatHHt to come
to their d^.
AfWr waiting two days for the result of our message with-*
out receiving anv retatn, we proposed to march to Zumk
peeing, the chief town of the district in which we then were* .
the pnndpal peof^ of whidi had been summoned to attend
at our quarters, but had ncg^ecte<i our n^essage. We ao^
dmicNng^ began our inarch for thai ^lace early oi'a raoniing,
haVingCortea at our hea^ who was not quite recovered from
his kfe illness* The morning was so exoessivdy ooM, that
two of our horses became so exceedindv iU that we eaipected
them to have died^ and we were all Hke to perish from the
eflbcts of the piercing winds of the Sierra Nevada^ or Snowy
Mountains* This occasioned us to accelerate our march to
bring us iuto beat, and we aitived at Zumpadngo before
U'- j^Hprenk} but the inhdiltantc, immediately on getting no-
Usa of Our approach, fled precipitately from their bouses, ex*
daihiin^ that the teules were coming to kill them. We leak-
ed in a place surrounded with walls till day, when •y^a-.^
priekts and old men come-to us from the temples, mAY'r'f* ii V
apology for n^ecting to obey our summons, as ts i
been prevented by tlie threats of their general Xieoteneatl.
Cortes ordered, them to send us an immediate supply of pro-
visions, with which they complied, and then sent them with
a messag" *'- Tloscala, commandiug the chiefs of the republic
to attebd 'irfTm at this place to establish a peace, as we were
jiT Df w' yt had i /ken place in consequence of our
*>^ former
still igk
OBtf. T. Aor. tl. ijf ArfNtffMfe Cfrin,
ft
JBRC
cncatL
fpro-
» witli
ipdblk:
e were
of our
brmer
Tht Indiaiu of he cowtt^ \m§m mm^*
tmtainphwQnkk ofbaiaa of lu, uad orden werefivMi i»
Um Tlmltii Mnate tiMI th» pM|p)e in oor neigbbonrhood
■iMnld uqpply w plentMiHgr with pmvitfcHM,
At this ttioe fQQM of the foUicr* vwiiMd tbei r notlnoiai cpM.
plitoti, pmicuUrij thom who hM good homw ipd pl»nt»>toin
Ui Ciibr , V'O i^inrmiirad M the luurikbips thqr 1^
and tl jk nfbld dengen with which we were nunoimded.
Pr^i . ^. ringleaden now waited on Coiteii having a
.{g!lRa.ian ft^ their needy who addrtwed the ffeocral in • stm
r :<<c r^n. repreientipg, ** That above fifty^v^ of our
ooropi^nMHn had already peritbed during the expeditton*
«|nd we were iioir ignorant of (he situation of those we bad
left at Vilhi fi4c[|. That we were so turronndcd j^ eneini«i,
it wftb Iprdly' poaiible to ei»ape from being lacrinoed to. the
idoli of die barbariani, if we persiited in our present hoper
lets enternriiHb Our dtnatioii^ they laid, waa worstf thui
beasts of onrdeni who had fiiod and iwt whoa forced to la-
hour, v^ile we were qspressed with &tigne, and.wnld vmm
ther procnre il^ or provisions. As thM^^afore the countrji
, now leemed peaceable and the enemy h#d withdrawn, thio
present oraortunity oiight to be talten for retumiiw iaune.
diat^ to Villa Hica, on pnrpose to construct a vesseTto send
for reinforcements from Cuna i a^ding^ that the^ lamented
^ destruction of our shipping, a rash and imprudent step,
which could not be paralleled in history," Cortes answered
them with great mildness < ** That he was satisfied no soW
diers ever ^diibited more valour than we, u|d that bv pene>«
verance alone could we hope to preserve our iives amidst those
great perils which God hitherto delivered us from, and that
he hoped for a continuance of the same mercy. He iq[)pca]'
ed to them to say if he had ever shrunk dmm sharing in all
their dangers ] which inde^ he miffht well do, as he never
n>ared hunself on an^ oipcasion. As to the destruction of
the fcljps, it was done advisabtv, and for moat substantial
reasons ; and as the most illustrious of our countrymen had
n^ver ventured on so lx>ld a measure, it wan better to look
forward with trust in God, than to repine at what couki not
now be remedied. That iJ^uah the natives we had left be-
hind were at present friendly, aU would assuredly rise against
us the moment we beonsi to retreat $ and if our situation
wne now bad, it would then be dc^Denttek We were now
in a i^oitiful country ; and as for our losses by death and
fatigue
m
1
*'**'»l'HIW
i.
i
*-
14
Gonquest oflleitUo' ifim vtimot. h.
feti^Me, such was the fortune of war, and wc had not come
to tms country to enjoy sports arid pasumes. 1 desire
therefore o^ you, who are al) gentlefticta, that ybn no longer
think of retreat, but that you hencefbrwnrds shew an example
to the rest, by doing your duty like brave soldiers, which
I have alw^ays found you hitherto." They stUl continued
to urge the danger of persisting in the march to Mexico ;
but Cortes cut them short, saying. That it was better to die
at once than live dishonoured; And being supported Inr all
his friends, the malcontents were obliged to stine their dissa-
tisfkction^ as we all exclaimed that nothing itiore should be
said on the snbject.
Our deptAatioh from Zumpacingo to Tlascab was at length
successful ; us after four i epeated messages from the chiefs of
the repul^, their general Xicotencatl was obliged to cease
hostilities. Acef>rdingly forty In(Kan» were sent by him to
our quarters with a present of fowls, bread, and fruit. They
also brought four olcl women in tattered clothes, some incense,^
and a quantity of parrots feathers. After ofFeriug incense to
Cortes, one of the messengers addressed him as follows :
** Our genera) sends these things to ydu. If ve are tetdest
as is reported, and desire human victims, take the h^rts and
blood of these women as food : We have not sacrificed them
to you, as yon have not Iritherto made known your pleasure.
If ye are men, we ofibr you fowls, bread, and fruit ; if be-
nignant teuleSf who do not desire human sacrifices, here are
incense and parrots feathers." Cortes replied. That we were
men like themselves, and never put any one to death except
in our own defence : That he had repeatedly required them to
make peace with us, which offer he now renewed, advising
them no longer to continue their mad resistance, which must
end in then- own ruin and the destruction of their country:
That our ottlyobject in comingamongthem, was to manifest the
truths of our holy religion, and to put an end to human sa-
crifices, by command from God and our emperor. These
men were spies, who had been sent by Xicotencatl to gain
information of the strength and disposition of our quarters ;
and we were informed of this by our Chempoallan allies, who
had learnt from the people of Zumpacingo that Xicotencatl
intended to attack ns. On this information, Cortes seized
tour of tlie messengers, whom he forced by threats to con-
fess, that their general only waited fur their report to attack
us that night in our qiuvrto's. lie then caused seventeen of
the
CHAP. V. SECT. Ti. btf Hcmando Cortes^
U
the Tlaacalan messengers to be arrested, ciittiAg off the hands
of soine and the thumbs of others, and sent them back in
that condition to Xicotencatl with a message, that he would
wait his attack for two days, after which, if ne heard nothing
farther ft'om him, he would march with his Spaniards to
^eck him in his post, Qn the return of his spies in a muti-
lated stf^te, Xicotencatl, who was prepared to march against
us, lost all his haughtiness and resolution, and wc were in-
formed that the chief with whom he liad quarrelled, now
quitted the army with his division.
, The approach of a numero^is train of Indians by the road
from Tlascala was announced by one of our videts, from
which we all conceived hopes of an embassy of peace, which
it actually was. Cortes ordered us all immediately under
arms, and on the arrival of (he embassy, four old mw adx
vanced tp our general, and after making tlr°e several reve-
rence9) touching the ground with their hands and kissing
them* they o^red incense, and said i That they were sent
by the chiefs pf Tlascala to put themselves henceforwards
under our protectioq, and declared that they would on no
account have made war upon us, if they had not believed we
were allies of Montezuma, their ancient and inveterate ene*
my. They assured him that the first attack had been made
upon us by the Otomics without their approbation, who be-
jiieved they might easily have brought our small number as
prisoners to their lords of Tlascala. They concluded by so-
iicituig pardon for what had passed, assuring us that their
general and the other chiefs of Tlascala would soon wait upw
on us to conclude a durable peace. Cortes in his answer,
assumed a severe countenance, reproaching them for the vio-
Irnce they had been guilty of, yet, in consideration of their
repentance, he accepted their presents, and was willing- to re-
ceive them to favour, as he wished for peace i but desired
tliem to inform their chiefs, if they delayed waiting upon
him, he would continue his hostilities (ill he had ruined their
whole country. The four ambassadors returned wiUi this
message to tlicir employers, leaving their attMidants with
the provisions in our quarters. Wc now began to entertain
hopes of their sincerity, to our great satisfaction, as we were
heartily tired of the severe and hopeless war in which we
had been so long engaged.
The news of the great victories which we had gained over
the T]ns(;nl4ns soon spread over the whole country, and cnme
. . t«
i
. JH^lSHLZ
i
\
!> ■■.■*!
H'
3
i
U
Conquest^ Mexieo tmm ii. booil th
,to the knowlieclge of Montenima, who tent Aft principal
nobld» of his court to coiwratulate us on our success. These
men brought a present or various articles c^ gold, to the v»>
lue of 1000 crowns, with twenty loads of ridi mantles, and
a message, dedaring his desire to become a vassal of our
suvereiffn, to whom he was willing to pav an yearly tribute.
He added a wish to see our general in Mexico, but, owing
. :. to the poverty of the country and the badness of the roads,
\ he found himself under the necessity todeprivehimself of that
I great pleasure. Cortes expressed his gratitude for the prer
I sent, and his satisfaction at the offer of their sovereign to
become tributary to our emperor ; but requested the Mexi-
can ambassadors to remain with him till he nad concluded his
arrangements with the Tlascalans, after which he would give
them a definitive answer to the message of Montezuma*
While conversing with the Mexican ambassadors, Xicoten-
catl, with fifty of his principal warriors ail in unform habits
of white and red, came to wait upon Ck>rtes with gceat re-
, q>ect, who received them verv courteously, causinsr uie Has-
calan oeneral to sit down beside him. XicotencatI then said,
. That he came in the name of his father and the other chiefb
f of the Tlascalan nation, to solicit peace and friendship, to
^bmit themselves to our sovereign, and to ask pardon for
havinff taken up arms against us, which had proceeded from
: their dread of the machinations of Montezuma, who was al-
u ways desirous of reducing their nation to slavery. Their
Country, he said, was very poor, as it possessed neither gold,
. jewels, cotton, nor salt ; the two latter they were prevented
from obtaininff by Montezuma, who had also deprived them
of all the gold their fathers had collected. Their poverty,
therefore, must plead their excuse, for not bringing satisfac-
tory presents. He made many other complaints against the
oppressions of Montezuma, and concluded by earnestly soli-
citing our friendship and alliance. XicotencatI was strong
made, tall, and well proportioned, having a broad and some-
what wrinkled face, and grave aspect,' appearing to be about
thirty-five years old. Cortes treated him with every mark of
respect, and expressed his high satisfaction that so brave and
respectable u nation should become our allies, and subjects to
our sovereign ; but warned them seriously to beware of re-
' peating the offences they hud been guilty of towards us, lest
It should occasion an exemplary punishment. The Tlasca-
lan chief promised the utmost fidelity and obedience, and iu-
3 vited
r
CHAR >n SICT. VI*
HernaHdo Ctrttt*
It
vited luto fiome to their city } which CortM promiaed to do
as soon u he had conchidea' hek busineu tHttk the 'McKkan
nmhmimdftfii and Xicotenieatl took his leave. >
Hie -ambassadors of Montezmna endeavoured to impren
Cortes with distrust of the sincerity of the Tlascdlois} aa^
serting that their professions of peace and friendship wnre ^
onlv meant to betray us, as they would certunly murder na
whue in their city. To theyc representations Cortea aniwerv
ed thait he was resolved to go to Tlascala, that he might aa^
certain the sincerity of their professions ; and that any sudft
attempt as the Mexicans surmised would only bring. on its
own condign punishment. The ambassadors then requested
Cortes to delay his march for six days, that they mi«it ra^
ceive fresh instructions from their sovereign, to whioh'he ao«
ceded for two reasons, because of the state of his own hodlhf
and that the observations of the ambassadors seemed' to x»>
3uire serious consideration. He now sent a messenger to
Uan Escalente at Villa Rica, informing him of all Uiat had
happened, and requiring him to send some vesads of sacral
mental wiiie, and some consecrated bread, all ^at "vte had
brouriit with us having been used. We at this time got the
peopfe of Zumpacingo to purify and white wash one of t&nr
temples, in which we erected a lofty cross. Our new frienda
the Tlascalans supplied us amply with provisions, particuhd!^
fowls and tunaSt or Indian figs { and repeatedly invited us lo
their capital, but with this mst we could not immediatdy
tomply, owine to the engagement with the Mexican amba»^-
sadors. At toe end of the sixth day, as agreed upon. Ox
nobles arrived from Montezuma, with. a present of gold to
the value of 3000 crowns, and 200 rich mantles |<rwilfa> a
complimentary message, desiring us on no account to trust
the Tlascalans or to go to their capital Cortes Totiimed
thanks for the present, and the warning respecting the HaJs*
calans, whom nesaid he would severely punish if theyat>
tempted any treachery : and as he was just informed of the
i^proach of the chiefs of Tlascala, he requested Ihe Mexi-
can ambassadors to wait three days for his final answer. . >
4> The ancient chiefs of Tlascala now arrived at our quaitiM»
borne in litters or hammocks, and attended by a large train-
of followers. These were Maxicatzm, Xicotencatl tiM dder»
who was blind, Guaxocinga, Chichimecatecle, and Teci^a-
neca the allied cacique of Topeyanco. After saluting Cortes
with great respect, the old blind chief Xicotaicatl addreMed
VOL. IV. B him
\*-
#
18
ConqueU oJMetcuo paut ii. book ii.
.
him to dM feUowing eflfect : <* We have often lent to request
pankm for our ^htratilitiesi which were caused hy our suiq>i-
dons that you wece in aHiance with our enemy Mootexuma.
Had we 'known who and what you were, we would have
gone down to the coast to invite you from your ships, md
would have sw^ the roads dean liefore you. All we can
BOW do as to inme ^ou to our dty, where we shall serve you
in every thing withm our power j and we beg you may not
liitea to the misrepresentations of the Mexicans, who are
omr enemies, and are influenced by malic? against us." Cor-
tes returned thanks for thdr courtesy, saying that he ^ould
Jiave visited them ere now, but wanted men to draw his ean-
On learning this, five hundred of the natives were as-
amisi';
■emUf^for^is service in less than half an hour, and Cortes
pMNniflied to visit their ci^ital next day. We accordingly
B^au our march eisrly next morning, the Mexican ambass**
dors accompanying us at the desire of Cortes, and keqiing
ilways near his person that they mi^t not be insulted by
tiieir Hascalan enemies. From this time the natives alwtya
gave GprteR the name of Malintzin, signifying the lord or
captain of Maruia,.becau8e she always interpreted for him in
thaito language. We entered the dty of Tlascala on the 2Sd
September 1519, thirty-four days after our arrival in the ter-
ijitones of the republic. As soon as we began our march.
f
k^llle chiefs went before to provide quarters fi>r us; and on
dnr approadi to the dty, th^ came out to meet ue, accom-
panied by their daughters and otlier female relations : each
t^)e scparatdy, as this nation consisted of four distinct
tribes, besides that which was governed by the cacique of
Topcyanoo. . These tribes were distinguished from each o-
ther Jb^idifferrait uniforms, of doth made of nequen^ as cot-
Ion did not grow in their country. The priests came like^
wise to taeet us, in long loose white garments, having thdr
long h^r all clotted with blood proceeding from recent cuts in
the ears^ and having remarkably loner nails on their fingers ;
Aey auTM pots of Incense, with which they fumigated us*
On our arrival, the chiefs saluted Cortes witn much respect,'
and the people crowded to see us in such numbers that we
cooUl hardly make our way through the streets, presenting
Cortes and the cavaby with garlands of beautiful and sweet
omtelling flowers.
We at length arrived at some large enclosed courts, in the
•INMrtmeiits around which our lodgings were appointed ;
when
■■t^
A^
..*i'.
CMAP« V. 8ICT* VI* ijf Hernando CoiUt*
19
when the two prindpal chieft took G>rtei by the hand nA
conducted him into the i^Murtoient which wm destined for hu|
use. Every one of our ribktiers were provided with a nwl
end bed>clothes ma;^ of neqnen cloth. Our allies were lodg>
ed dote by us, and 'tha^ Mexican amba»uKl<^ were MOomq
modated, by desire <^Gortes, in the apartment nott m,
own. Though we had every reason tp confide in the Tlat-
calans, Cortes used the most ri^d military precautions fiof
our sfJety ; which, being observed by the chiefs, they- oob|I-
plained of as indicating suspicion of their sincerity i but Cortei
assured them this was the uniform ciutom of our countrvy
and that he had the most perfect reliance on their truth.
As soon as an altar could be got ready, Cortes ordered Juan
Diaz to celebrate the mass, as Qlmeda was ill of a fever*
Many of the native chie& were present on this occasion^
whom Cortes took along with him after the service into hit
own apartment, attend^ bjr those soldiers who usually ao>
oompanied him. The elder Xicotencatl then offered a pre?
sent, consisting of a small quantity of gold and some piecea
of cloth, not worth twoity crowns altogether, and expressed
his fear th|it he might despise so paltry a present, which ho
excused on account of the poverty of their nation, occasioned
by the extortions of Montezuma, from whom they were for-
ced to purchase peace at the expence of every thing valuable
belonging to them. Cortes assured them that he valued dieic
gift, smafi as it was, more than he would a house full of gold
vcum others, as it was a testimony of their friendship, whi^
he greatly valued. Xicotencatl then proposed that a strict al-
liance should be formed between the two nations, and that
our chiefs should accqit their daughters in marriage, o£Per-
ing his own to Cortes, who thanked him for these marks df
friendship* The chiefs remained with Cortes a whole day*
and as Xicotencatl was blind, Cortes permitted him to exa-
mine his head, face, and beard with his hands, which he did
with much attention.
Kext day the chiefs brought five daughters olpheir prin-
cipal caciques, who were much handsomer than the othef
women of the country, each attended by a female slave. Oa
this occasion Xicotencatl presented his own daughter to Cor-
tes, and desired him to assign the others among his prindpal
officers. Cortes thanked him for the mark of regard, but,
that for the present the ladies must remain with their parents,
as we iniiit fint obey tht fitmiaandl ^ QHT Qv^t #nd the,
m.-
i^
t
■Jj^r^'-
%
^r«-
• jf.
f
s«
CoHfuest of Mtxico part ii. book ii«
':if;.
orders of oar sovereign, by abolishing human sacrifices and
other abominations, and by teaching them the true faith in
the adoration of one onlv God. 'He then shewed them a
beautiful iilnage of the holy Mary, the ^een of heaven, the
mother of our liord by the power c^the Holy Ghost, ctm-
ceiyed without sin, adding. That iPthcy wished to become
our brethren, and that we should marry their i^aughters,
fli^ must renounce their idolatry, and worship our God, by
which they would not only benefit their temporal concerns,
biit would secure an eternal happiness in heaven ; whereas
by persisting in the worship of their idols, which were rq)re-
sentations of the devils, they would consign themselves to
hell, where they would be plunged eternaUy into flames of
fire. This and a great deal more excellently to the purpose,
bdng well explained to them by our mterpreters, the chiefs
made answer to the fdtiawing effect : That they readily be-
lieved all they had now heard respecting the excellence of our
God and his saints, and mi^bt in time be able to understand
the subject of his exhortations ; but that if they were now
to renounce the religion of their ancestors in weir old age
to'please us, the priests and people would rebel against them ;
more especially as the priests nad already consulted their
gods, who had commanded them on no account to omit the
human sacrifices and other ancient customs, as otherwise
they would send famine, pestilence, and war into their coun-
tfy : They requested, therefore that nothing more might be
said on this subject, as they could not renounce their gods
but with their lives. When the subject of this conference
was reported to father Olmedo, who was a wise and good
man, he advised the general not to urge the matter any far-
ther for the present, as he was adverse to forced conversions,
such as had been already attempted at Chempealla ; and that
to destroy the idols were a needless act of violence, unless
the principles of idolatry were eradicated from their minds
by argum^BL as they would easily procure other idols to con-
Unue theipiworship. Three of our cavaliers, Alvarado, de
Leon, and De Lugo, gave a similar advice to Cortes, and
the subject was judiciously dropped, which might have again
excited the Tlascalans to inveterate enmity.
"Soon afler this we got permission to clear out and purify
4me of the temples, wnich was converted into a Christian
church j aind had an altar and cross erected. Here the ladies
who were destined to be the brides of our officers, having
, ..'^ ■ ■ -.-^.. .-. .. '», - been
-'^,.
""lywn i-,w>i>'-~r-~<»«
..*
^
GHAP. T. iBCT. VI. fy Hemando OHfrtet,
21
been instructed in the principles of the Christian fdigioii
were fawtixcd. The daughter of Xicotencati was named
Donna Luisa, and being taken \ify the hand by Cortes, was
presented by him to'^AIvarado^ saying to her jbther th^ tlua
officer was his brother, with which arrangement thd oldl
caciqoe seemed perfectly satisfied. Almost the whole proviooe
of liascala came afterwards to depend upon this lad^, payinff-
rent and homage to her. She had a son by AlvaradoAamea
Don Pedro, apd a daughter Donna Leonora, who inherited,
her mothers domains, and is now the wife of Don Fran-
Cisco de la Cueva, cousin to the Duke of Albnqueroue, by
whom she has four or five sons. In right of his wi& Donna
Luisa,^ Alvarado became lord, and almost sovereign of Tlaa*
cale. As far as I can remember, the niece, or daughter of
Maxicatzin, named Donna Leonora, and remarkably hand-
some, was given to Velasquez de L^n. I have forgotten
the names of the other ladies, ajU stiled Dongas, but they
were assigned to De Oli, Sandoval, and Avlla. After the
ceremonies were concluded, the natives were informed that
the crosses were erected in order to expel the evU spirits
which they had been in use to worship.
Cortes obtained considerable information firora the two
principal chiefs of Tlascala, Xicotencati, and Maxicatzinr
relative to the military and political state of Mexico, lliey
said that Montezuma had an army of an hundred thousand
warriors, occupving all the cities ot the neighbouring states,
wliich were suDJect to his dominions, with strong garrison^
and forcing them to pay heavy tributes in gold, manu&cturest
productions of the soil, and victims for cacriftce, so that hif
wealth and power were exceedingly great ; but that all the
districts which were under subjection to him were exceedingly
dissatisfied with his tyranny, and inclined to take part with
his enemiesp Their own state of Tlascala had been in almost
continual wars with the Mexicans for above an hundred
years, and formed a league for mutual de^cf with the
people of Guaxocingo '; but were principally vexed by in« ^
roads from the . Mexican garrison in Cholula, from which
city the troops of Montezuma were able to come by surprise
on the llascalan territories. They dfi>cribed the city of
Mexico as of greajt strength, bemg built in the lake, and only
accessible
9 Thu place, so often mentioned by Diaz, •ecmt to U the Mint called
Hucxotziaco by Clavigcro.— £.
:ii
^ ■■.*
^:
H ■■ - Cmjmtl ^ liigifo vakt lu book ir.
aooMiible bynanrow caiuewayi, with wooden brid^, ud
having no •006M to most of its houses but fay drawbridges or
boats. llMgr deacribed the arms of the Mexicans as oonsist-
ing of doable-headed daru, vAkich were^rojected by a lund
of slinos, hnoea having stone heads, an ett in length, aikd
both c«ures as sharp as a raaor, and two-handed swords,
edged lfl(«wise with sharp stones, besides shietdn .^A other
deransNe anttour. The chiefs shewed hurge tufuen duths,
on which tkidr various boUJeit were represented, with all those
different kinds of weapons. They alleged that their country
was anciently inhabited by a people of great stature and very
barbarous manners, who had been extirpated by their an-
cetlOt's, and produced a thigh-bone which they said had lie-
fenced to one of these giants. I stood by it, and it equalled
my neight, though I am as tall as most men. Wc sent this
bone to S^n for the inflection of his majesty. The chieiii
told us that their idols had Ions ago predicted, that a people
was to arrive from the distant lands where the sun rises, and
to subdue their country, and they believed we were those to
whom the prediction applied. Cortes said that this was cer-
tainly the case, and that our great emperor had sent us to
establish a lasting friendship t^tween our nation and them,
and to be the instruments of shewing them the only way of
Salvation : Tp which we all said Amen I
While we were in Tlascala a volcano near Guaxodngo
tikrew out great quantities of flumes, and Di(^(o de Ordas
went up to examine it, attended bv two Spanish soldiers, and
■ome of the principal Indians. The natives declined going
. iny nearer to the volcano than the temples of Popocatepeque,
but De Ordas and his two Spanish comrades ascended to the
.jhunmit of the mountain, and looked down into the crater,
Which is a circle of near a quarter of n league diameter.
From this peak also, they had a distant view of the city of
Mexico, which was twelve or thirteen leagues from the mono*
tain. Tbit was considered as a great feat, and De Ordas, on
his return to i^in, got royal authority to bear this volcano
in his arms, which is now borne by his nephew who dwells
hk La Puebla. This volcano did not throw out flames for a
flood niiny years afterwards, but it flamed with great violence
m 1580. We observed many wooden cages in^ the city of
T^kMcala, in which the victims intended for sacrifice were
confined and fattened ; but we destroyed all these, releaHing
the Unhappy prisoners, who remained ^ong with lis, as
they
\ ,'
"■
■4
i ■ • m
.t " .
m
■->■ ■
>-
■0;
' -f
■i
> i\
,* *
^-
m.
J^i
hi
CHAP. V. SECT. yii. ijf Hemaruh Cortes.
n
they dared not to return to their own homes. G>rtet tpoko
very angrily to the Tlascalan chiefi» exhorting them to
abolish this horrible custom of human saorificea, and they
promised amendment; but immediatety> on our back*
oehBg turned, they resumed their andent abominationst
SXCTION VIL
EvetUt during ihe March of the Spaniardejrom Tkueala to
Mefcico.
After a stay of seventeen davs in Tlascala to refresh our*
selves after our late severe fatiguefl, and for the recovery of
our wounded companions, it was resolved to resume our
march to the city of Mexico, thomzh the rich settlers of
Cuba still oideavoured to persuade Cortes to return to Villi^
lUca. This resolution also gave much uneasiness to our new
Tlascalan allies, who used every argument to make us dis*
trust the courteous manners of Montezuma and his sul^ects^
whom they alleged to be extremely treacherous, and would
either fall upon and destroy us on the first favourable cmpor-
tunity, or would reduce us to slavery. In the event of hoe*
tilities between us and the Mexicans, th^ exhorted us to kill
them allyounff and old. Cortes thanked them for their
friendly counsd, and ofiered to negociate a treaty of peace
and amity between them and the Mexicans ; but they would
by no means consent to this measure, saying that the Mexi*
can ffovernment would employ peace only as a cover f<nr
treachery. On making inquiry as to the b^t road to (Mexi-
co, the ambassadors of Montezuma recommotded that by
Cholula, in which we should find good accommodation } biit
the Tlascalans earnestly entreated us to go by Huexotzinco
which was in alliance with them, representing the Cholulans
as a perfidious people. But Cortes determined jto take the
road of Cholula, intending to remain in that city till he
could secure a safe and peaceable reception at Mexico $ he
sent therefore a message to the chie& of Cholula, to inform
them of his intentions, and to express his dissaliafiitetion at
their conduct in not having been to wait upon him. While
engaged in preparations ror our departure, four of the prin-
cipal nobles of Mexico arrived with a rich present, consist-
ing of gokl to the value of 10,000 crowns, and ten bales of
mantles
■%'
t# Coiipii$t qfMettko PART II. BOOK II«
immtlM of <he fineit fiwther-work. After saluting Cortei
tiith profound respect, they said that Montezuma was aa-
tonished al our tong retidenotf among so poor and base a
people at'the TIascMans, and that he requested we would
oomewithoul dday to his capital. Cortes assured them that
he would very soon pay his respects to their sovereign, and
lequeited they would remain along with him during the
march. He also at this time appomted Pedro de Alvarado,
and Vasquez de Tupia, to go as his ambassadors to Monte-
suraa, with instructions to examine the city of Mexico. These
gentlemen set out accordingly, alonir with the former Mexi-
can ambassadors, but were soon recalled, in consequence of a
remonstrance from the army. At this time I was confined
by my wounds, and was lU of a fever, and consequently
incapable of attending minutely to all that passed.
'In return to our message, the chiefs of Cholula sent a very
dry «nd uncourteous answer by four men of low degree, and
without any present. As this was obviously done in contempt,
Cwtes sent the messengers back to inform the chiefs, that he
would consider them as rebels if they did not wait upon him
personally in three davs { but, if they complied with this re-
({uisition, he wc.s willing to accept them ns friends and
brothers, and had much intelligence of great importance to
conraiunicate to them. They sent back, sayii.'^, that they
durst not come into the country of their inveterate enemies
the TIascalans, who they were sure had grossly misrepresent-
ed both them and Montezuma to us, but engaged to give us
an honourable reception in their city. When tne TIascalans
found we were determined upon taking ihe road of Cholula,
contrary to their advice, they proposed that we should take
10,000 of their best warriors fuong with us j but our general
oonsidered this number as too many for a visit of peace, and
would only accept SOOO, who were immediately made ready
to attend us. Using every proper precaution tor our safety,
we he^^ our march from Tlascala, and arrived that evening
^ at a river about a league from Cholula, where there is now a
■■■ atone bridge, and encamped here for the night. Some of the
chiefs came to congratulate our airival in their neighbour-
hood, and gave us a courteous invitation to visit their city.
We continued our march next day, and were met near the
>'city bv the chiefs and priests, all dressed in cassocks of cot-
ton doth, resembling those used by the Zapotecans. After
presenting incense to Cortes, the chiefs made an apology for
CHAP. V. 8KCT. VII. ijf Httmndo Cortes* ft
not waiting upon him at Tlascala, and reqneited that fo Iarg»
a body of their enemies might not be permitted to outer their
city. As this request a|)peared reasonable, Cortes sent Al-
varado and De Oli, to desire our allies to hut themselves
without the city, which they did accordingly, imitating the
military discipline of the Spaniards, in the arrangement of
their camp and the appointment of centinels. Before enter*
iug the cit^, Cortes explained the purpose of his mission in a
long oration, in the same manner as ne had already done at
all the other places during the march. To all this they
answered that they were ready to yield obedience to our
sovereign in all things, but could not abandon the religion of
their ancestors. We then marched on in our usual compact
order, attended only by our allies from Chempoalla, and the
Indians who drew our artillery, and conveyed our baggage,
and entered the city, all the streets and terraces of whidft
was filled with an immense concourse of people, through whom
we were conducted to our appointed quarters, in some laige
apartments, which conveniently accommodated our army
and all our attendants.
While we remained in this place, a plot was concerted b«
the Mexican ambassadors for the introduction of .20,000
warriors belonging to Montezurra, who were to attack us in
conjunction with the people of Cholula ; and several houses
were actually filled with poles and leather collars, by means
of which we were to have been bound and carried prisoners
to Mexico. But God was pleased that we should discover
and confound their machinations. During the first two
days, we were perfectly well entertained } but on the third
no provisions were sent us, and none of the chie& or priests
appeared at our quarters. Such few of the inhabitants
as we hi^ppened to see, speedily withdrew with a malicious
sneer ; and on Cortes applying to the Mexican ambassadora
to procure provisions for us as usual, some wood and water
only "'ere brought to us by a few old inoa, as if in derision,
who said tliat|no maize could be procured. This day, likewise,
some ambassadors arrived from Montezuma, who desired in
very d^respectfui terms on no account to approach Mexico,
and demanded on immediate answer. Cortes gave them a
mild Answer, expressing his astonishment at the alteration in
the wne of their sovereign, but requested a short delay
before giving his definitive answer to their message. He
theiv summoned us t(^ether, and desired us to keep on the
V,---, plot
■i .
T
V-
*
CoHqueH iffMtJtuo 9A%r ii. jN>uft ii.
I
k
■^'
■s*
.#.
•,
alert, m he luqaected lomo great act of treachery wm ia
imitation againkt in. At the chiefs of Cholnla had refuacd to
wait ttpon him, Cortes tent eomc toldien to a ffreat temple
ckiee t» oar quartern, with orders to bring two of the priests
to him as quietly as oossiblr. They succeeded in this with-
out difficulty { and, having made a trifling present to the
priests, he inquired as to the reason of the late estraordinary
oonduct of the Cholulan chiefs. One of these who was of
hiffh rank, having autliority over all the temples and priests
ei the city, like one of our bisltopa, told Cortes that he would
persuade some of the chiefs to attend him, if allowed to
^peak with themi and, being permitted to go away for that
purpose, he soon brought several of tlie chiefs to our quarters.
Cortes reproved them sharply for the change in their beha-
viour to us, and commanded them to send an immediate
smwly of provisions, and likewise to provide him next day
.witn a competent number of people to convey our baogage
and artillery, as he meant thien to resume his march to
Mexico. The chie& appeared quite confounded and panie
struck, yet promised to send in provisions immediate^, al»
ieging in excuse for their conduct, that they had been so
ordered by Montezuma, who was unwilling that we should
advance any farther into his dominions.
At this time, three of our Chempoallan allies called Cortes
aside, and told him that they had discovered several pitfids
ebse to our quarters, covered over with wood and earth, and
that on examining one of these they found its bottom pro-
vided'witli sharpened stakes. They informed him also that all
die terraces of the houses near our quarters had been re»
oently provided with parapets of sod, and great quantities of
stones collected on them, and that a strong barricade of timber
iiad been erected across one of the streets. Eight Tlascalans
arrived also from their army on the outside of the town, who
earned Cortes that an attack was intended against us, as the
priests of Cholula had sacrificed eight victims on the preced-
ing night to their god of war, five of whom were children ;
and tMt they bad seea crowds of women and children with-
drawing from the city with their valuable efiects, all t^ which
were sure signs of some impending commotion. A Cortes
thanked the Tlascalans for this instance of their fideliw, and
lent them back to the camp with orders to their chiefs lb hold
themselves in readiness for any emergency. He theb re-
tamed ,to the chiefr and priests, to whom he repeatcid his
--^~..
cifiiy. ?. Bcr. Tii. ijfHimando Cortes. iV
forniMr ordcni warning tbtm not to domte b&n thciir dw-
dicnce, on pain of instant condign puniibmenty comnand-
ing them »i Uw tame t ime to prcmirc 8000 of their beta war-
rion to accompany him next day on bit march to Ifexioo.
11m chi«& readily promiied to obey all hii> conmandt, UiinkH
ing in this manner to fiwilitate their projected treacheryi and
took their leave. Cortea then emplo)ed Bonna Mnrinato
bring bacic the two priests who had been with him before*
fi-om whnm he leurnt, that Montezuma had been lately veiy
unsettled in his intentions towardb ut, sometimes giving
orders to receive us honournhly, and at other times com-
manding that we should nut be allowed to pass. That he
had lately consulted his go<ls, who had revealed that we wore
all to be put to death, or made prisoners in Chdula, to &>
cilitate which he had sent 20,000 ol ^i" *.TOojp» to that place«
half of whom were now in the city, and the rest concealed at
the diittanoe of a league. They added, that the plan of attai^
wat all settled, and Uiat twenty of our number were to be t»>
crificcd in the temples of Cholula, and all the rest to be ooiip>
veyed prisoners to Mexico. Cortes rewarded them liberally
for thor intelligence, and enjoined them to preserve the
strictest secrecy on the suited, commanding them to turii^
all the chiefs to hit quarters at an appointed time. He thea
convened a council of all the ofBcers, and such soldiera at he
most confided in, before whom he laid an account of the
information which he had received, desiring their advice as
to the best conduct to be pursued in the present alarming
emergency. Some proposed to return inuncdiatcly to Tlaa-
cala, and others proposed various measures, but it was the
universal opinion that the treachery of the Cholulans reqnir-
ed to be severely punished, as a warning to other places. It
was accordingly resolved to inflict condign punishment on
the Cholulans within the courts where we were quarterec^
which were surrounded by high walls, but ia the meantime*
to continue our preparatione for resuming die march, in
order to conceal our intentions. We then informed the
Mexican ambassadors, that we had discovered the laeeacheiw
ous intentions of Uie Cholulans, who pretended that they
acted by orders of Montezuma, which we were convinced
was a folse aspersion. iThey solemnly declared their igno-
rance of these transactions ; but Conrtes ordered them to
have no farther intercourse with the inhabitants of the ci^,
and salt them to bis own quarters vnder a stroi^guud
' s* fog
*"■
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is
Qn^ptest ^Mexico part ii. book th
It
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for the night, during the whole of which we by upon our
arms, ready to act at a moments warninff.
rhiring this anxious nieht» the wife of one of the caciques,
who had' taken a great liking to Donna Marina, came se-
cretly to visit that lady, informing her of the plot, invited
her to take refuge in her house from the dancer which was
about to overwhelm us, and proposed to give her for a hus-
band the brother of a boy who was along with her. Donna
Marina, with her usual presence of mind, agre^ to every
thing proposed with a profusion of thanks, and said she only
wanted some one to take charge of her effects before leaving
the Spanish quarters. In course of this conversation,
Marina acquired particular information of every part of tliis
mysterious affair, which the old woman told her had
been communicated to her three days before by her husband,
who was chief of one of the divisions of tlie city, and was
now with his warriors, giving directions for their co-operatioB
with the Mexican troops, and who had lately received a gold
drum from Mexico, as an ensign of command. Donna
Marina desired the old woman and her son to remain in
her ^artment till she went in search of her valuables } but
went immediately to Cortes, to whom she communicated all
the information nhe had received, adding that her informer
was still in her apartment. Cortes immediately sent for the old
-woman, who being confronted by Donna Marina, repeated
every thing exactfy as before, which agreed in all respects
with the information he had already received from others.
When day appeared, the hurry of the chiefs, priests and
people in cominff to our quarters as appointed, and their
■apparent satisfaction, was as gi'eat as if we had been already
secured in their cages. They l>rouffht a much greater num>
ber of warriors to attend us than bad been required, inso-
much that the large courts in which we were quartered were
unable to contain them. We were all prepared for the event,
having a strong guard of soldiers posted at the gate of the
great court, to prevent any one from escq)ing. Cortes
mounted on horseback, attended by a strong guard ; and as
he sav: the pec^le crowding in at the gate, he said to us,
** See how anxious these traitors are to feast on our flesh !
But Gon will disappoint their hopes." He ordered
the two priests who bad given him the information to retire
ia theiirt houses tliat they might escape the intended slaughter.
:£very one being arrived in the great court) he commanded
'.«5t*' . . - . <:m^ the
■ £
%
CHAP. V4 SECT. Vii. 6j/ Hernando Cortes. fSt.
the chiefs and priests to draw near, to whom he made aealm
remonstrance on the treachery of their conduct towards U8»
which was explained by Donna Marina. He asked them
why they had plotted to destroy us, and what we bad done
to deserve their enmity, except exhorting them to abandon
their barbarous and abominable customs, and endeavouring
to instruct them in our holy religion ? Their evil intentions,
he said, had been obvious, by withdrawing their women and
children from the city, and by insultingly sending us only
wood and water, when we required provisions. He said he
was perfectly acquainted with the ambush which was plaoid
in the road by which we meant to march, and with all the
other contrivances they had made for our destruction; and
that in recompence of our proffered friendship, and of all
the holy services we intended them, he knew that they meant
to kill and eat us, and that the pots were ^ready on the fire,
prepared with saJt, pepper, and Yoma/as, in which our disse-
vered limba were to be boiled. He knew that they had
doomed twenty of us to be sacrificed to their idob, to whom
they had already immolated seven of their own brethren.
** Since you were determined to attack us," said he in condu-
don, ** it had been more manly to have done so openly like the
Tlascalans, and not to have resorted to mean and cowardly
treachery. But be assured that the victory which your
feise gods have promised is beyond their power, and the
punishment of your treason is now ready to burst on yow
guilty heads."
The astonished chiefs confessed every thing which wat hud
to their charge, but endeavoured to excuse themselves, by lay-
ing the whofe blame on the orders they had received from
]V£>ntezuma. ** Wretches," said Cortes, ^* this falsehood is aa
aggravation of your offence, and such complicated crimes can
never be permitted to pass unpunished." He then ordered
a musket to be fired, as a signal to commence the slaughter,
for which we all stood prepared. We immediately fell fu-
riously on the multitudes who were inclosed within the walb
of our quarters, and executed their merited punishment in such
a manner as will be long remembered by the remaining
natives of Cholula. A vast number of them were put to.
death on the spot, and many of them were afterwards burned
alive. In less than two hours, our Tlascalan allies arrived in
the city, having been previously instructed in our plan, and
made a terrible slaughter in the streets of the cttyj and
when
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the city, plundtiin^ it of eveiytlrinff valuable they could Jiqr
hdd 0^ and makiitf daves oc^ the inhabitants who fell in
their w«!fi> On the £^ foUc^ng, when intdligence reached
TkMOidaofthetranMction§ at Cmlula, great numbers crowd-
ed to the devoted city, n^hich they plundered without meriqr.
It now became necessary to reatrain the iiiry of the Haaca-
lans) and Ck>rtes gave orders to their chiefs to withdraw Iheir
troops from the city* with which they immediately complied.
Quiet being in some measure restored, iomechic&and
priests who presided over a distant quarter 1,1^ the city,
which th^ pretended had not been engaged in the oonspi-
raey, waited in an humble manner on Cortes, and jprayed »
xemission of the punishment which had ahready iaiiea so
heavily on their townsmen. Hie two before mentioned
imests, and the old woman from whom Donna Marina had
procured such material information, came forward fikcwiae.
Mid joined in the same petition, and Cortes determined to
shew clemency to the rest of the ci^, yet seemed still in great
rage. He eallcdthe>Mezican ambassadors into his presence,
in whose presence he declared that the whole mhamtants of
the' dty and dependant <tf Gholula had ri<^ merited tp be
utterly extirpated for their treadi«iy 1 but diat out. of respect
to the great Montezuma, whose vawals th^ were, he con-
sented to pardon them.' He thm ordered the Tlascalans to
liberate their prison««| which they in some measure com*
plied with, setting free many of those they intended to have
reduced to slavery, yet retained a prodigious booty in gold,
mantles, cotton, and salt. Ha^ng proclaimed an amnesty to
ike Cholulans, he reoonciled dicm and the Tlascalans who
had uiciently been confederates 1 and being desired to 1^
poittt a new chief caciquef of Cholula, in pliwe of the former
who had been put to death, Cortes inquired to whom that
dignity bdonged of rights and being informed that thie brother
of the late mad cacique o^ht to succeed according to their
laws, he nominated him to the office. As soon as the inha-
bitants had returned to their houses, and order was restored
in the ci^, Cortes summoned all the chiefs and priests to a
conference, in which he explained to them the principles of
our holy religion, eamcstfy exhorting then to renounce their
idolatry, and the odious practices connected with it } and, aa
an instfuice of the usekssness of their idols, he reminded them
ho# much they had been latdy deceived by the felie teafaa*
4 ses
i
CHAP. ▼. SECT. VII. 6y ^^Tfuindo Cortln.
«1
aes iovpoMcl upon ihetti in their naoiet: He probosecl to
them therefore, to destroy th«r seaseleN idob, and to erect
an altar and cross in their stead. The latter was immediately
complied with, but Father Olmedo advised him to postpone
the former to a more &vourable opportuaitj, from «du«
consideration <^our uacertttn and perilous situation. '
Cholula was then a large and populous city, much re-
sembling Valladolid, situated on a fertile pU>;? which waa
l^ckly inhaUted, Mkd all its surrounding district was weU
cultivated with maize, maguey, and pepper. There were
above a hundred lofty white towers in the city,* belonging to
deferent idd temples, one of which was held in very high
estimation, that principal temple being more lofty evai than
the great temple of Mexico. An excellent manuftcture of
earthen ware was carried on at this place, the various artieki
of which were curiously painted in different patterns, in red.
Mack, and white, and from which the dtv of Mexico and tSk
the surrounding countries were supplied, as Castile is frcmi
Talavera and I%u»ncia* la the numerous temples of thia
city there were many cages, which were filled with men and
boyfi, fiittening up i&t sacrifice, all c^ which Cortes caused to
be destroyed, sending the miseraUe captives home to thai:
respective houses. He likewise gave pouCiVe cnders to Uie
priests to desist in fiiture fipom thb most abominable custom,
which they promised to refrain from, but they foi^ot their
promises its soon as the authority of our irresistible armtk Waia
removed*
On hearing the mdftndioly fate <^ their oompaBiont it&
Cholula, the Mexican troops who were posted in ambush,
with trenches and barricades to oppose our cavalry, made a
p«ciiHtate retreat to Mexico, whether they carried an ac-
count to M<mtezuma of the fiiilure of his plot for omr de»
structiou} but he had already heard the news of his misfor-
tunes from two of his ambassadors, whom Cortes had dismis-
sed for the purpoNCk It was reported that he immediately
ordered a soWin sacrifice to his gods, and shut himself up
for two days with ten of his chief priests, engaged in ri|^'
devotional exercises, <m purpose to obtain a response fronH
his gods respecting his future destiny ; and we afterwards
leomt that the priests advised him, as firom their gods, to
send an embassy to exculpate himself from having any con-
nection with what had <^)assed in Cholula, and to inveigle as
into Mexico { where, by cutting <rfr the euj^ly of water,
or
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Coitqutit of MeteiHt F4M ji, book. Ut
or byniaing tbe* bridges cm the caiiMways,]wft^ght!«Mify
deatroy us, or detain us in slavery to breed people like oum
selves for his service. .< £ .
Haf mg) rettauied Iburteen, days in Gholula, Corteteon-
snlted in regard to oiur future (^rations with a council of
those officers and sddiers wjio were most sincerely attached
to his persfW* as indeed he never (engaged in any matter of
impoftanoe without taking our advice. In this oonsukatifmi
it was determined to send a respectful message to Monte-
zuma, informing him that we were on our way to pay our
respects to him by the orders of our own sovereign. Our
meseeiM|er, was likewise dettred to relate t^e whole late events
which i:ad occurred at Cholula, where the treach^ which,
had be^ ccmcerted agdnst us had come to our knowledge,
from which nothing orald be concealed which ccmcerned our
wdfare, and that we had desisted from punishing the peofde
of that city to the full extent which they deserved, «ntirky
out of respect to him, whose vassals they were^ That thf
chiefs and priests had given out that all they had done or inl/
t^ded to do was iby his orders } but we could not possibly
believe that so great a monarch, after the many marks en
friendship with which he had honoured us, coukl be guilty
of such iufamotis proceedinos; b«ng convinced, if he had
meditated hostility, ha would have met us honourably in the
field of battle: But at the same time to assure him, Uiat day
or night, {field or town, fair battle or villainous strataoem,
were all tne same for us, as we were always prq>area ^t
every emergency. Montezuma had become exceedingly
thoughtful and alarmedon account of the failure of the plot in
Chi^ula, and now sent an ttabassycf six of; .his chief nobles
to wait on Cortes, with a present to the value of 2000 crowns
in gdd, afid "everal bales of fine mantles. The ambassadors
saluted Cortes with profound respect, and ddivered a message
in winch Montezuma endeavoured to exculpate/himself from
any concerti in the aflnir of Cholula, and in conclusion, in-
vited the funeral to his court. Cortes treated these ambasr
•sadors with his usual politeness, and retaining three of them
to serve as guides on our march to Mexico, he 9ent on the
others to inform Mentezuiiia that we were o^ our, way to his
capital When the Tlascalan chiefs understood our deter-
mination to proceed, they renewed their former warnings
to beware of treachery fivm the Mexicans, and again tiered
to said 10,000 of their warritMrs along with us. out Cortes,
after
,
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tHAVj '■ w. . ncr.' vii. igf Meiii/u/Kb CMet,
^
naat in-
Munbaft"
oftbem
It QU the
f to liis
deter-
arningi
ofiered
Cortes,
after
after ^thankiiif liliein for their frieBcttjr aolickade ead |»rofibr^
edaid^ reniamed^ashehad^oncbdbre,.thatJohurffe a^-bodj
of troops was incompatible with an amicable inm» but re-
qneiMted thef- would ramish 100& mea feroucbsiggiMitnd
evdilexy, 'whidi they immecfiateljr pitiTided.: ^ GNiir mithfid
ChenqpoaUiiialliei^ beina afraid ot^the resentment:; oft dw
Mexioans fop- their revolt, b^;^ peimissioii -to Eetoin to
their district, and €k>rtes dismissed than witk^^hMidsonie
present, sending letters by them to Escaloite.at ViUa EicSt
containing an account of our proceedings.
We marched from Chokua in our; twial compael<Mrder,
prepared for whatsoever miaht befal, sendiiug^out patr^eS'Of
our cavalry by threes in front, supported bjr a detachment
of light infantry as an advanced guard* On our arrival at
a smiall village called Izcalpan, in the district of Huexotzinco,
about, four leagues from Cholula, we were met by the (diiefr
bearina provigims, aind a sinali present of gold. . Thm' re-
quested-our fleneral. to considtt only the good will qfltfae
givers, not theworthlessness of the gift, as the^ were very
poor } and^ while they endeavoured to dissuade him from atr
tempting to proceed to Mexico, they also informed him* that*
on ascoiding the next mountain, he would fiqd two rpads^
the one of which reading by Chalco was broad and open,
vrihile the other leading by Tlalmanalco, though originally
equally; convenient,, had been recently stopped up, and ol>-
structed by means of trees feUedacross itto render itdlffh
Gidt, thottffh it was in reality shorter and more secure than
that of Cnalco, on which road the Mexicans bad pUlced a
large party of troops in ambush among some rocks, fi>r the
purpose of attacking us by surprise on the march. Th^
advised us therefore, if we were dete^rmined to perseyerer to
choose the obstructed road, and offered to send a number c^
their, people to clear it for us. Cortes thanked them for
their good advice, of which he would avail himself % the
blessing, of Ooo. Havins halted for the night atlzcaipan*
we resumed our march eany the next morning, fuid retiished
&e summit of a mountainous ridge about noon, whjerc we found
the^two roads exactly as they had been, described to us. We
hidted here :in. order to deliberate on our procedure, whm
Cortes called the Mexican ambassadors to explain the mean-
ing of the felled trees. Pretending ignoranceontbissitt^ect,
they advised him. to take the road of Chalco, where they
said iie wouU be wdl . received.. Cootet chose however to
ir^voL. IV. G take
84
Omqtua (jfMuneo met ii. book u.
tak6 tbe other rotd, and sent on oar Indian aUiai to dear
the way befiMre ut. Aa we ascended the moiiatdn» &e
weather became piercii^ly cold, and we even had a consi-
deiaUe &U of snow, which covered the whole country voiKid
about. We at length arrived at certain hottiii which had
been built on the veiy top of the mountun fiv the aoeommo-
dation of travdlers, where we found an abundant sumihr of
jprovisiom, and having phced proper guards, we haltea here
fer the n^t We resumed our ma|«h next morning, and
arrived by the hour of hij^ maM at the town of Hafanaaalco,
where we were hoqritably received. The people of the ne^^
bouring districts of Cbako, Amaqucmecan, and Ajotzinco,
where nie canoes are kept, waited on Cortes at this pbce
with a> present of about 150 crowns in gdd, some mantles,
and «^^ women. Cortes recdved them afiably, and pro-
mised v^hem his fHenddiij) and protection } entbdninff to
them, as on former occasions, the doctrines of our noly
fiuth, exhorting them to abandon their idobtry and bar-
birouB immolation of human victims, infimninff them that
he was sent among them by a poweriid monarai to redress
wroiiM, and to Icm them in the way of eternal salvation.
€b this the people began to make knid com|^nts of the
Qrranrty of M ontenuna, who deprived them of their wives
wd daughters if handsome, forcing the men to work Ifte
shivei in we oonv^ance of stones, timber, and com, and ap-
pvopnating their undi to the service of his temples. Cortes
gave dbem' kmd assurances of qpeedv redress, but recom-
mended to them to be patioit yet a little while. . u
Just as we were gmi^ to aet out from Tlalmanaloo, four of
the principal nobles of Uie court of Mexico arrived with pre-
sents from Montezuma, and having made their customary
obeisaiice, they addressed Cortes in the foUowing manmar :
** Malinatxin ! our sovereign sent this pescnt to you, and
desires us to say, that he is nrievcd you should take so much
trottUe in coming from a custant country to visit him. He
has alread|y made yon be informed that he will oive you much
gold, silver, and ekaUiikuii for your temies, if you will give
up yow intention of coming to Mexico. We now repeat
this request in hu name, that you will return; and he will
send after you a great treasure in gold, sihcr, and jeweb for.
your king, with four kwda of goldfor yourself and a load for
eith of your Inrethren. It is impossible for you 'to proceed
to Meodco, at the whole Mexican waniovs ave in anus to qi*
2 pose
CHAP. ▼. ttcr. VII. hjf Hernando Cofta*
95
ppieyott) betidet which you will find the roadt Ixid, and
will be unable to procure provii&tts." EtnbMdng the am»
bassadors with much politeneM, and having Mtorned thapka
for their present, Cortes expressed his astonishment at the
changeaUenees of Montezuma, who thns akemately inviteil
and deprecated his presence. He besged them to than^
Montealima for the splendid offers be had made of treasure
to tbe emperor, himself, and his sokUersi butitwasquito
impossible for him to turn back, especiiAy wh^ so near the
capital, as his orders from his own sovereign were to pay hH;
re^)ect8 to theirs in perMm ) it was quite uieiess, therefttre,
to send him any more such messages, for he was resolved
to proceed; and if Montezuma should desire his departure
aftor having seen him, he would b0 ready at his command tQ
return to ms own country.
Having thus dismissed the ambassadors, we continued oiit
mansb, and as our allies bad informed us that Montezum*^^
intended to put us alt to death, after our entry into his city",
we Were filled with melancholy r«ucvwr*^« on ottr haoaKtoua
sitttati<Hi; reo6mm6nding our s6uls therefore to theLonn
Jesus Christ, who had already brousht us in safety through
so many imminent dangert, and resomng to sell our lives at
a dear rate, we proceeded on our mar^. We halted at a
town named Istapalapan, one half of the houses of which
were built in die water, and the rest on dry land, and took
up our quarters there for the ni^t. While prepatii^ early
next mornmg to recomUience our march, mformation was
brouffht by a senthiel that a great numba" of Mexieans in
rich dresses were on the road towards our quairters^ <m which
Cortes again dismissed us. Four principal nobles of Mexico!
now presented themsdves with profound reelect before our
genera, whom they informed that Cacamatiln, lord of Tex-
cuco, and nephew to the great Montezuma was a{^roaching(
and b^wed that he would remain in his presoit situation to
receive mm. Caeamat^n soon followed in vast poiAp, bom^
in a nu^ificent litter, adorned with jewels andplumssof
gieen feathers, set in branched piUaTs qfgold. Hb fitter
was carried by eight nobles, who assisted hmi to Al%hl, and
then swept the wi^b^bre him as he came up to Cortes.
Our genoral embraced the prince, and marie Y&m a preSiiit
of three of the jewels named margajitas, whidi anr i^(UMd
with various colours. The only purpose of this visit seemed
to have been complunentary, oa he addressed Cortes in these
words:
'0'
:-'^m-
96
CMquSnt (^Mexico paiit. ii. book n.
Worda : ** I, and theto lords, have come by order of the
great Monteninia, to conduct you to your residence in our
city." We then set forwards in our usual array for Mexico,
the KMid'bein}^ crowded on both sides with innumerable mul-
titttdcis of iMtives, and soon arrived at the causeway of Ista^
palwian, one of Uiose which leads to the capital
When we contemplated the number of populous towns so
closely situated i|i regard to each other, some on the water,
and others on the firm ground, we could not help compai ing
this wonderful country to the enchanted scenes we reocl of in
ARiadia de Oaul, so mngnificcnt were the towers and temples
imd other superb edifices of stone and Ume, which seemed
everywhei-e to rise* out of the water. Many of us were dis-
posed to doubt the reali^ of the scene before us, and to
'suspect we were in a dream; and my readers must excuse
the manner of my expressiKms, as never had any one seen,
heard, or even dreamt of any thing whieh could compare to
jthe nkognificence of the scene we now beheld. On ap-
proaching Ixt&palapan, we were received by several of the
highest nobles of tiiel Mexican empire, relations of Monte-
zuma, who conducted us to the lodgings appointed for us m
that plaoey which were magnificent palaces of stone, the tim^
ber work of which were cedar, having spacious courts and
h^jgb halls, furnished with canopies of tho finest cotton.
Amt ;ooi;templating the magnificence of the buildings, we
walked tbrou^ splendid garaens» containing numerous al-
leys planted wUh a varie^ of fruit trees, and mied widb roses,
and a valt variety of beautiful and aromatic flowers. In
thieie gardens there was a fine sheet of clear water, commu-
nicating with the great lake, of Mexico by a canal, which was
of sttflBtient dimensions to adroit the largest canoes. The
^qaartments of the pdace were everywhere ornamented with
works of art, admirably painted, and the walls were beauti-
ivlly. plastered and ^.whitened ; the whole being rendered de-
liriitnil by containing ^eat numb«^ of Maqtiful birds.
^When I beheld the ddicions scenery around me, I thoudit
''ire had been transported by magic to the terrestrial paradise.
.But this place is. now d^troy^, and a greats deal of "-'lat
was Iftien a beautifiU expanse of water,; is now converted into
^fields of: maiice, and all is so entiri^ loitered thai, tho natives
^themlelves would hardly know the place where Iztapalapan
ItOOdr^ ;Mv •.;■.,■ -I
yA^
mu
OKAP. ▼. 8ICT. vtn. by Hernando Cortes,
37
Skction VIIL
Arrival of the Spaniardt in Mexico^ Detcription of that Court,
and Citify and lYantactions there^ till the Arrival qf Nor-
vaez on the coast to supersede Cknies^ by order <f Velas^
gun.
Nkut dby, being the 8th of November 1519, we set ont
on oup wav into the city of Mexico along the grand causeway,
which is eight yanls wide, and reaches in a straight line all
the way from the film land to the city of Mexico, Doth sides
of the causeway being everywhere crowded with spectators, a*
were all the towers, temples, and terraces in every part of
our iMx)gress, eeeer to behold such men and animals as had
never been seen in that part of the world. A y&ry different
sentiment fram curiosity employed our minds, thciu^, every
thing we saw around us was calculated to «(ctte anu'erati^
that passion in the highest degree. Our little army did riot
exceed four hundred and fifty men, and we had been told at
every st^ of our march, that we were to be put to death on
our arrival in the city into which we were now about to en-
ter. That city was everywhere surroimded by water, and
approachable only by long moles or causeways interrupted in
many places by cross cuts, which were only to be passed by
means of bridges, the destruction or removal of any of
which would effectually {Mrevent the possibility of retreat.
In these circumstances I may fairly ask my readers, what
men in the world but ourselves would have ventured on so
bold and hazardous an enterprize ?
Proceeding along the broad causeway of Iztapalapan, we
came to a place called Xoloc, where a smaller causeway goes
off obliquely ttoxa the great one to the city of Cqjohuacan^ we
were met by a numerous train of the court nobles in the richest
dresses, who were sent before Montezuma to compliment us
on our arrival, after which Cacamatzin and the other noblea
who had hitherto attended us. went to meet their sovereign,
who now approached in a mosL magnificent litter, which was
carried by four of his highest nobles. When we came near
certain towers, almost close to the city, Montezuma was .lift-
ed from his litter, and borne forwards in the arms of the
lords of Tezcuco, Iztapalapan, Tacuba, and Cojohuacan, un-
der
Conqueit qf Mikieo
FABT 11« BOOK If.
dor a splendid canopy, richly adorned with gold, precious
stones hung round like fringes, and plumes of green feathers.
Monteiuma was dressed and adoniad withsreat magnifl-
cence, hn mantle being all covered with gold and gems, a
arown of ddn feoM on hb head, and ^oH buskins on his
hp ornamented with jewels, llie prmces who supported
him were all richly drewcd, but in different habits from those
in which they had visited us i and several other nobha in
fine dresses, went before the monarch, spreading mantles on
the ground to preventhis ftet from toucnii^ it. TThree no-
bles preceded uie whole, each carrying a goklen rod, as a
signal of the presence of their great monandi. All the na-
^ves who attended 'Monteiuma, except the four princes, kept
their eyes fixed on the ground, no one darinv to look him m
the face. On the approach of Monteauma, Q>rtes dismount-
ed and advanced towards him with every token of profound
reapectf and was welcomed by the Mexican monardi to hia
metropolis. Cortss then threw upon the neck of Montezu-
ma a collar of the artificial jewels called margajitas, being
glass beads of various colours, set in gold j after which he
advanced, meaning to embrace Monteauma, but the sur^
rounding nobles prevented him, by taking him respectfully
by the arms, considering this as too great mroiliarity. It ap-
peared to me that on this ooca«ion Cartes offered to yield tne
right hand to Monteauma, who declined this mark of reqiect,
am placed our general on his right. Cortes then made a
complimentary discourse to Montezuma, expressing his joy
in having seen so great a monarch, and the great honour he
had done him, by coming out to meet him, as well as Iw the
many other marks of favour he had already received. Mon*
tezuma made a gracious reply, and giving orders to the
princes of Tezcuco and Cojohuacan to conduct Cortes and
tlie rest of u» to the quarters assi^ed to us, he returned to
the ci^ in the same state in which he had come to meet
ui, m the people standina close to the walls, not daring
to look up i and as we followed the royal attendants, we
passed on without an;^ obstruction from the muIUtudes
in the streets. It were impossible to reckon the innumerable
niultitudes of men, women, and children which thronged
evenrwhere in the streets, on the canals, and the terraces on
the house tt^s, during the whole of our passage through the
ci^r fl( Mexico. So strongly is evei^ tning I saw on this
memorable day imprinted on my mera^i that it appears to
CHAP. V. am. VIII. isf HenumJb Cortes.
$9
me only •• yMtifday. Ok»y to our Lord and Qvnaut Jmsm
CShria^ wlio fftvo m oouracp to vanturt OD to huaniiMM an an-
terpriast and praiervad ua uiid k> many dangers: And
prdbed be his hohr name, who hath permitted me to write
this tnie hktory i tbovflh not lo ftiU and satis&ctory as the
3Mrita. Amenl
B^ were provided for ns in the pahioe which had
been occupied by Azayaeatl, not fiur from the west-
cm gate of the grest tei^ple. Here Bionteiuma had « se-
cret treasury of mid and yalnaUes, which he had inherited
iiiom hu fiwier ^ayacatl, and we were pbced here» because
being oenodered as teulu, they thou^t we were properly
lo^(ed in the nei^bourhood of their idols. The entiy to
this palace was througli a large walled court, and the whole
waa very light, airy, oean, and pleasant, with hrge and lofty
apartments. That allotted for our general was situated on ftv
raised platform i and for each of us mats were provided to
sleep upmi, having little canopies over them, after the foshion
of wis ooimtry. On our arrival at the snte of this palace*
Moatesuma, who had preceded up, took Cortes by the bond
and led him to tM i^Murtment destined to his particular use,
and having placed a nch collar of gold round the genorak neck,
he said on taking leave of him, ** Malinatain, you and youf
friends are now m your own house, -refresh and repose your-
seLves." We were distributed to our several apartments by
companies, having our artillery posted in a convenient situa-
tion, and every thing was arranged in such a manner as to be
prc|fared for any emergency A plentiful and even snmp^
tuous entertainment was provided for us, to which we sat
down with much satisfaction. This is a full and true account
of our adventurous and magnanimous entry into the dty of
Mexico, on the 8th of November 1519. :^
Aftex Montezuma had taken a repast in his own palacNSl
and was informed we had done the same, he returned to our
quarters attended by a great retinue of nobles. Cortes re-
cdved him in the middle of the hall, where Montezuma
took him cordially by the hand, and they sat down together
on mi^puficently ornamented seats. Monlezuma made 4
vary pertinent speech, in which he observed, ** That be re-
joiced at the arrival of such valiant captains and warri<Mrs m
his dominions. He had before heard of a %)anish captain
who had arrived at Pontonchan, and of anotha who came
Upon the coast in the preceding year with four ships, and had
wished
iO
Cm§mii ^Mtnieo vabt ii. book ii.
?
wiskadtd MeiUMte mtn,ha^im dltapi^ohiMd. Now that
we w«rt aotHdfy •rrivMl in kit donhiiMM, he wae happv to
oflbr every fitvour in kiewMMr.to'iinliit, being oonvinoMl we
vera thoie men prediotea bv the oodi to hi* ancestcrs, who,
oooung from that pert of 'the wond in which the ktm ritet,
were to acquire the government of this oowntry, aa 'we bad
fought with r such aalonishing valour ever since oar atvival,
representations of alt our battles having been sent him in
painting.? i Cortes replied, ** That he and all his brethren
could JMirer ^uflBciently repay the many fiivours we bad re-
ceived, from his bounty {'that we certainly were those aJien to
whom tho' .Mexican prophecies related, being the vassals of
the gnat and pownriul emperor Don Carlos, to whom many
great princes, were eubnecti and who, hearing of the fiune
and. ttMgnifioence of itne great Montezuma, had seat us to
request that '. he and his subjects would embrace the Holy
Christian religion, abandoning their &liie gods and sraseiess
idols, and idbolifthing their bwbarous human sacrifices, by
which means he would preserve the souls of himsekj his f**
soily, and subjecta from, perdition." Cortes enlai^(ed on
this and other topics in *mdst edi^ng manner, proroisiag
to communicate mora ' particulars herealUn Montezuma
(hen presented a quantity of vahmble ornaments of goU to
our general, with a present of some goldj and three ImmIs of
maniKs.to.ea|Bhiof our cnstains, and two loads of mantles to
each of the soldiers. After this he asked Cortes if all his
sddiera were brothers and vastels to our emperor. To . this
Cortes answered that they were all brothers in love and
firiendshqs, men of rank in our own country, and servants of
our greiA wwtrtign. Montezuma then departed, with mu-
tual oomplimeBts, after giving orders that we should be am-
ply provided with every thin(^ we needed ; particularly fowb,
frui^ and com, stone mills lor grinding our com, and wo-
men to moke bread, and to suppJy us doily with plenty of
grass (qt our horses.
Next day being appointed for making a vibit to Montezu-
ma, Cortes went to the royal palace accompanied by captains
Alvorado, Dc Leon, Ordas, and Sandoval, with five soldiers.
Montezuma mit him in the middle of the great hall, attend-
ed by his relations, aU others being exduded iirom the apart-
ment in which he hfq)pened to be, except on certain occa-
sions of importance. After mutual compMrnents of ceremo-
ny, Montezuma took Cortes by the hand, and led him to a
seat
eHJ»,f.mot,mi. ' igf Himmio Carta,
41
■Mt on bit o«m iright hud, plioed on an devitodt pktfiwm
in the mitam, CoriM tlMn i^, •« That he euM to hin in
the name and for the lenrioe of the'oll^v true Ood, who waa
adorad by the Chriatiani, the Lord Chiriit Jcmn, who had
died to M^ ai and aU men. He endesvoured to exnhdn the,
myitery of the croM, at an emblem of the crucinxion, by
whiA mankind had biten redeemed. He fccOunted Uie tu^
fainot and death of our Lord and Saviouri who had ritan
on tne third day and atcmded to heaven, where he now
reigni, the creator of the heavent» and the earth, and the
tea, and dl that they contain. He atterted^ that thote i4k>lt
whicii the nativtt held aa godt, were devilt which dared not
to remain wherever the holy crota wat pkinted. That at all
manhind were brothert, the ofilnring u the tame first pair,
our i^orioat emperor lamented tne lott of their souk, which
wonld'be brought by their idolt into evwlatting flamet, and
had tent ut to apply a tore remedy, by abolitning the wor-
thip of idob, the bloody and inhuman tacrificct ^ their fel-
low men, and their otfaier odiout cuttomt to contrary to the
law of Ood : And that our emperor would tend them holy
men hereafter to explain all these thingt more fiilly." To
thit Montezuma repHed,<**:Ma]inatzin I I am much indebt-
ed to your emperor for tending you so far to inform me of
all these thingt, of which > l^ave already beard by meant of
my. ambassador! who have visited ymi m my name, uod to
which hidierto we have in Je no reply. We have alwayi
worshipped' our godt, whom we contider to be just and good,
and have no doubt yours are so likewise. It had uwaya
been hit wish to tee ut frean the firtt time he had heard of
our arrival on his coattt, hecaute he believed we were ihey of
whom their ancient propheciet made mention, and his godt
had now granted his desire. That our being refiised en-
trance into hit citiet was none of his fault ; having been
dime by his subjects without orders, who were terrified by
the accounts they had received of us, which reported .lat '
we were furious tettles^ who carried thunder and lightnuiff
along with us, that our horses eat men, and other such fo<£
ish storict. That he now saw we were valiant and wite men,
for which he highhr esteemed us, and would give us proofs
of his &vour." Then changing the manner ot hit discourse
to garaty, he added M Midinatzin ! Your new friends the
Tlatcalans have informed you that I am like a god, and that
f very thing about me is gold, silver, and jewels. But you
now
43
Conputi iff Mexico part ii. book u.
I
nofw Me tliat I am like other man, and that my hornet are
of limei ftMiet and timb«r. It it trae that I am a powerfbl
sovereign, and have great richer whidi I have inherited from
my ancestora. You mil now treat thcie reports with the
same oontempt that I do the ridicilous stories which I have
heen told of yoiiur having command over the dements." To
this Cortes rqpJiedi that the aooounta of enemies were never^
to 1^ depenckd on i and made a handsome compliment to '
Monteiuma on his power and grandeur. Montezuma then
ordered in a rich ftresent, aiving Cortes a quantity of gold,
with ten loads of rich sti^ to be divided bietwem him and
his captains, and to each of us five soldiers, he g|ave two
gold collars, each wo^th ten crowns, and two kinds ot mantles.
The gold given on this occasion was worth about a thousand
crowns, and the whole was given with so much affabili^ and
indifference, as made him appear 'truly munificent. CVirtes
now took leave, it being the hour of dinner, and we retired
impressed with high respect for the liberality and princely
munificence of Montezuma.
^> The p;reat Montesuma appeared to be about forty years of
Se, of good stature, well proportitmed^ «id rraier thin,
is face was rather long, MOth a nleasant expression, and
good eyes, and his complexion rather fiurer than die other
Indians. His hair was short, joal covering his ears, and his
scanty beard was thin, black, and well arranged. His per-
son was very clean and delicate, as he bathed every evenmg i
and his manners were a pleasing compound of gravity and
good humour. He had two lawful wives, who were prin-
cesses, and a number of mistresses ; but his visits to these
were conducted with such secrecy as only to be known by his
most &miliar servants i and he lay under no suspition m un-
natural vices, so common among his subjects. The clothes
he wore one day were not used for four days after. His
guard ctmsisted of two hundred nobles, who had apartments
adioining his own. Certain persons only aniong these were yiet'
muted to speak to him, and when they went into his presence,
they laid aside their ordinary rich dresses, putting on others
auite plain but clean, entering his apartment barefooted, with
leir eyes fixed on the ground, and making three profound
reverences as they &pproach«l him. On addressing him,
they always began. Lord I my Lord ! great Lord ! and when
they had finished, he always dismissed them in few words ;
on which they retired with their faces towards him, keeping
«.^. their
n
cHAr. V. 8ici^ VIII. ^ Hernando Cartet,
4»
their eyei fixed on tbe ground. I obwrved likewise, that all
the greet men who waited upon him on buaineae, always en-
tered the ptdaoe barefooted and in plain htAAt», never enter-
ing the gate directly* but making a circuit, in going towards
it. '~f I
The cooks of the palace had above thirty different ways of
dressing meats, which were served up in earthen vessels ci a
very imzenious cmistruction for keeping their contents ahtrays
hot. For Montezumas own table above three hundred dishes
were dressed every day, and more than a thousand for his
guards. Montezuma sometimes went before dinner to in«
spect the preparations, on which occasions his officers point-
ed out to nim which were the best, eiqilaining what birds or
flesh they were composed of. It is said that the flesh of
young children was sometimes dressed for his table { but after
Cortes had spoken to him respecting the barbarity of this in^
huouui custom, it was no longer practised in the palace.
The ordinary meats were domestic fowls, pheasants, geese,
portridges, quails, venison, Indian hogs or pecarist pigeons,
hares, rabbits and many other animals and birds peeimar to
the country} the various meats being served up on black
and red earth^i-ware made at Choluja. In the cold weather
while at his meala, a number of torches were lighted up, of
the bark of a tree which has an aromatic smell and gives no
smoke ; and to prevent the glare end heat of those mm be-
ing troublesome, rich screens ornamented with gold and paint-
ings of their idols were interposed between A&ntezuma and
the torches. At his meals he was seated on a low throne or
diair, at a table of prt^rtional height covered with white
cloths and napkins, four beautiful women attending to pre-
sent him with water for his hands, in vessels named xicates^
having plates under them, after which tli^y gave him towels
to dry his hands. Two other women attended with small
cakes of bread { and when he began to cat, a large screen of
gilt wood was placed before him, to pravent him from being
seen. Four ancient nobles, who were his relations and served
as councillors and judges, stood beside the throne, with whom
he occasionally conversed, giving them a part of what he was
eating, which thev received with profound re^)ect, and eat
without lifting their eyes iiom the ground.. Fruit of all
kinds produced in the country was served up to him at table,
of which he eat in great moderation ; and a certain liquor
prepared from cocoa, said to be of a stimulant and strengthen-
ing
':*■■
«Mt*"*~— « -
4*
Conqiust ofMexko i^abt ii* book ii.
v!
/'
k^ aaiure, wm jsretented to him from time to time in golden
oups. All the time he eontinned at table his guards and all
ethers in or near his -oartment had to preserve the most pro-
found silPiice, under pain of death* Owing to the before-
mentioned screen which concealed him from public view, we
eould not <<% all the circumstances here described fipom H^for-
nation. But I noticed above fifty jars of foaming -chocolate
brouriit into the hall, some of which was presented to him
hy the female attendants. During the repast, various In-
dians were introduced at intervals for bit ar 'isement: Some
of these were hump-batiked', ugly, and deformed, who played
various tricks of buifoonevy,' and we were told that othete
werejest^s, besides which there wore companies of singers
and danccca in whidi ho was stud to take great ddightj imd
to all these he ordered vases of chocolate to be distributed.
When the repast was ended, the four' female attendants al-
ready mentioned, after ^removing the olotbs, presented him
again with water to wash his hands, during which he conti-
nued his 4x>nver8ation with the Sam <dd nobles, who then
took their leaves wjtb much ceremony^. He^was then present-
ed with three small hollow canes highly omafmented, €ontain>*
ing an herb called tobi^fjco mixed With liqirid amber; and
when he was satie'ied with the buffoons, dancers, aftd ^ingers^
hesmdkedfor a short tkne from one of these canes, and
dien laid himself to sleep. I forgot to menticm in its proper
place that, during the time of dinner, tw« beautiful women
wope employed in making certain small dcNcately white cakes,
of e^ And other ingredients, which they presented on plates
covered with naf^ins to Montezuma { alicl then another kind
of bread was brought to him in long loaves, as Ukewise plates
of a kind of cakes resembling warors or pancakes. When
Montezuma had concluded his meal, all his guavds and do-
mestics sat down to dinner, f^nd as well as I could judge,
above a thousand dishes of the various eatables already men-
tioned were served up to them, with immense quantities of
fruit, and numerous vessels of foaming ctiocolate. His estab-
lishment, including his women and inferior servants of all
kinds, was amazin^y numerous, and must have occasioned
prodigious expence, yot the most perfect regularity was pre-
served amid that vast profusion. The steward of his house-
he^, or majoiMlomo, was at this time a prince named Tapiea,
who kept an account of all the roynl rents in a set of books
er symbolical representations which occupied an entire ho.use^
^ Connected
CHAP. ▼. SECT. Till. by Hernando Cdttes,
«»
' iCon^iected with the' p&lace of Montezuma tliere wer^ fw<»
laree buildings filled with every kind of annB, both offimsiye
and defensive, some of which were richly ornamented widi
gold and jeweki ; such as lot^ atad small shidds, some of the
latter being so contrived as to roll up in a small compass, an4
to let fall in action so as to cover .he whole body ; much de?* '
feiisive armour of quilted cotton, ornamented with variout
devices in feather work ; helmets or casques for the head made
of wood and bone, adm'ned with pinnies of feathenli im-
mense quantities of bows, arrows,, darts, and slings; idnces
having stone heads or blades six feet long, so strong as not
to break when fixed in a shield, and as sharp as raaors ; clubs
or two>handed swords, having edges of sharp stcMMs; and
many other articles which I cannot enumerate. In the pa-
lace tliere was a magnificent aviary, containing every kind of
bird to be found in all the surrounding country, from large
eagln down to the smallest paroquets of beautiful plumage.!
In this plflc * ornamental feather-work so miich in repute
among the mm, waa fabricated, the fiaathel« ht Uua
purpose bi .^ .<kken from certain birds called Qjdetzalesi taai
others, having green, red, white, yellow, and bhie feathers^
about the size m our Spanish pyes, the name of which I hove
forgot. There were also grrat numbers of parrots^ and
geese of fine plumage j all these birds iMreeding in the royal
aviary, and being annually stripped of their feathers at die pn>-
Eer season, to supply the workers in fisather-work. There was
kewise a large pond of dear water, in which were kq>t a
number of large birds of a red colour with very long legs^ re>
sembling those called Ipiris in Cuba, and called flamingos by
the Spaniards. In another great building we saw a temple
dedicated to the war gods, in which were kept great numbers
of ferocious beasts, as tigers, lions of two species, one of which
called Adive resembled a wolf; also fokes, and other smaller
animals, all of them carnivorous. Most of these were bred
in this menagerie, and were fed upon game, fowls, and dogs*
and, as I was informed, on the bodies of the sacrificed human
victims. Their manner of sacrifice was said to be as follows:
They open the breasts of the living victim with large stone
knives, ofiering his heart and blood to thar gods ;. they
fisast on the head and limbs, giving the bodies to be devour^
ed by the wild beasts, and hanging up the skulls in the temples
as trophies of their misguided piety. In this place likewise
there were many vipers and serpents, the most dangerous of
which
"«
1
V-,
Conquat ifMeieuo pabt ii. book ii.
'i
which have a kind of rattle on tbdr tub, making a ndie like
our castanets. These are kept in vessds filled ririth i^then,
where thejr breedt and are ftd with human flesh and the car-
cases of '^ I was assnred, a^ our crnmlsion frmn Mexi-
co, that .tiese animals were fed for many omv" on die bodies
of our companions who perished on tmtt occasion. These
ravenous beasts and horrid rqitiies are fit companions for
their infiemal ddtiesj and when they yetted and hissed, that
part of the palace might be hkened to hell itself.
^ The town in which most oi the Mexican artists resided
was eaSed Aseapoxako, about a league fWira the city of Mexi-
rOf in which were man^ sho^j and manufitctories of those
who wroi^^ in gold, silver j and jewellery, whose productions
sntprised the ablest j^taniih artist on being carried over to
%Min. Their painters were also exceedintfy expert, as may
be judged firom what we still see among them } as ^ere are
now three Indian painters in Mexico, named Marcos de Aqui-
no, Juan de la Cruz, and GreqsSlo, who are not inferior to
Mkhati Angelo or Berr^uete >nioiiff the modems, and
might even have vied with Apdles. Ine fine cotton manu-
iactures of the Mexicans were prindpally broiu^t from ^e
province of Costithm. The women likewtM of M^mtezuraea
fiunily of all ranks, were exceeding expert in these kinds of^
work, and were cmitinually employed ; as were also certain
ftmales hAlo lived t(^^er in a land of secluded bocieties,
like our nunsw One division of the city was entirely inhabit-
ed by Montezumas dancers and posture^ma&ers j some of
whom danced like those Lallans whom we ot\H Mataekinet j
others played various tricks fay means of Sticks which they
bahuBced in many carious ways; and others had a strange
manner of flyii^ in the air. M<mteauma had also great
numbers of carpenters and handicrafts of various descriptions
oontiaualhr anptoyed in his service. His gardais were of
great extMt^ irrieited t^ means of canak, and shaded by an
mfinite variety of trees i having stone baths, pavilkms fat en-
tertainments or retirement, theatrce for shows and for the
singers and dancen, and mawv other parti(»dani, all of which
were kept in the nicest order oy a grrat number of laboaren
who were constantly at work.
< Four dsys after our arrivid Ix: Mexico, Cortes sent a mes*
sage to Montemma \n Aguilar,, Doima Marina, aud a young
page named Orte^ilu, mtto already b^^ to understand the
langaa||e» rec^uesting permission to take a view of the ci^r,
»i4*«^' i which
CHir. T. 8Ecr. Yiii. by HerruMdo Cortex
♦7
which was immedutely granted i but at he was afrud we
might 08^ some iasult to his lonple, he went thither in per-
son attended bj a great retinue, and In simikir pomp as when
he came to meet w on entering Mexioo^ two nobles preced-
ing the cairakade canying sceptres in their hands, as a ogoal
of the approach of the monarch. Montennn* was carried in
hit m;iffnifioent litter, carrying a smaU rod in his hand, hatf
<£ vMca was gold aiid the ether half wood : and on craning
to tlie temple, he quitted the litter and walked up the steps
attaided by many priests, where he olfered incense and per-
ibi «ed many cnremonies in honour of his war gdds. Oone»
ma relied at the head of his small band of cavalry, followed
by most of the infantry under arms, into Uie great squwe,
accompanied by many of the court nobles ; wnere we were
astonidied at the prodigious crowds of people, the vast quan-
tities of merchandize exposed fat sole, and the amoaing regu-
larity wbidi everywhere prevailed j all of which our Meucan
attendants carefully pointed out to us. Every diffierent corn-
modi^ had its own particular place, whidi wa^ distiittuished
by an amiropriate sign or emblem. There were deuers in
Sold, wver, fiuiUiers, jewels, mantles, chocolate, skins both
ressed and undressed, sandals, manufactures of the roots
and fibres oineqtden, and so forth. In one fiaee gnat num-
bers of male aiulfenmle slaves were exposed for sale, most of
whom were fastened by the neck in leather collars to long
poles. Tlie market for provisions was amply stocked with
fowls, game, di;^» v^tables, fndt, articles of food ready
drcMcd, salt, bread, honc^, sweet pastry or confectionary of
various kinds, and many <rther articles. Other parts of (he
great square were appropriated for the sale of earthen ware,
wooden furniture, buch as tables and benches, fire-wood, pa-
per, hoUow canes filled with tobacco and liquid amber ready
for smddng, copper axes, working tools of var s kfaids,
wooden vessels richly painted, and die like: In another part
many women sold fish, and small loaves of a kind of mud ta-
ken out of the lake resembling cheese. The makers of stone
blades were onployed in shaping them out of the rough ma-
terials. The dealers in gold had the native metal in erains'
as it comes from the mines, in transparent tubes or quw, so
that it could easily be seen j and the gold was vahiM at so
many mantles, or so many xiquipils of cocoa nuts, in propor-
tion M the size of the quills. The oreat square was enclosed
all 'i-ound by {liozas, under which were were great stores o^'
!w. .r.'=r-'>--«^'^='^'^-';i^^"'— •■='■■■ ■- ' - ' ' -' grain.
I
y
M
Conquest of Mexico part ii. book if.
grain, and shopi for various kinds of goods. On the borders
ot the aoyoining canab there were boats loaded with human
ordure» used in tanning Irather, ar<d on all the public roads
there were places built of canes and diatched with straw or
Srass, fc ''^e convenience of passengers in order to collect
lis nu^ I .In one part of the square was a court of jus-
tice havi. ^ t^;wje judoes, and their inferior officers were em-
ployed in i^eran^ulatrng the market, preserving order, and
mspectinff the varbus artides.
After having satisfied our curiosity in the square, we pr>>
ceeded to the great temple, where we went through a number
of large courts, the smiaiiest of which seemed to me larger
than the great square of Salamanca, the courts heing either
paved with large cut white stones, or plastered and polished,
the whole very dean, and inclosed by double walls of stone
and lime. O coming to the sate of the great temple, which
was Asoeaded by 114 st^, Montezuma sent six priests and
two nobles to carry up Cortes, which he dedined. On as-
cending to the summit, which consisted of a broad platform,
w;e observed the large stones on which the victims were placed
for sacrifice, near wnich was a monstrous figure resembling a
dragon, and much blood appeared to have been recently i^ilt.
Montezuma came out of an adoratory or recess, in which the
accursed idols were kept, and expr^sed his apprehension to
Cortes that he mutt be fiitigued by the ascent, to which Cor*
tes answered that we were never fatigued. Montezuma, taking
our general by the hand, pointed out to him the different quar-
ters of the city, and the towns in the neighbourhood, all of which
were distinctly seen from this commanding eminence. . We
had a distinct view of the three causeways by which Mexico
communicated with the land, and of the aqueduct of Chapol-
tepec, which conveyed an abundant supply of the finest water
to the dty. The numbers of canoes which were continually
seen passing between Mexico and all the towns on the borders
. of the lake, carrying provisions and merchandise, was really
astonishing. We coukl see, as we had been often told, that
most of the houses of tliis great city, and of the others in the
neighbourhood which were built in the water, stood apart
^from each other, their only communication being by means of
drawbridges or canoes, and that all their roofs were terraced
and battlemented. We saw numerous temples and adora-
tories in the great city below, on the causeways, and in the ad-
jj^M^ent, cities, all resembling so many fortresses with towers,
^«^J^ ~ * , wonderfully
eRi1^ v. iter. viii. bjf Hernando Caries.
M
Hfonderfully brilliant, being all whitewashed. The noise and
bustle of the market in the great square just below, Was so
great that it might easily have been heard almost, at the dis-
tance of a league ; and some of our rompanions who had
seal both Rome and Constantinople, declared they had not
seen any tiling comparable in these cities, for convenient and
jregular distribut'^n or numbers of people.
After having admired the magnificent prospect around,
Cortes requested of Montezuma to shew us their gods. Af-
ter consultinsc with his priests, he led us into a kind of saloon
in c tower, nrtving a timber roof richly wrought, under which
stood two altars highly adorned, and behind these two gigan-
tic figures resembling very fat men. lliat on the right was
Huitzilopochtliy the god of war, having a broad face and
terrible eyes, all covered over with cold and jewels, and hav-
ing his body twisted round with goulen serpents. His right
hand held a bow, and in his left there was a bundle of arrows.
Round his neck was a strins of the figures of human heads
and hearts made of pure gold, intermixed with precious stones
of a blue colour. Close by him stoc'* .mall image repre-
senting his page, carrying a louce and shield richly adorned
with gold and jewels. Before the great idol stood a pan of
fire, in which three hearts of human victims were then burn-
ing al«ng with copal. The whole walls and floor of the
apartment was stained with human blood, and had a most
offensive smell, worse than any slaughter-house. On the
left of Huitzilopochtii stood another gigantic figure, having a
countenance like a bear, with great shining eyes. The name
of this last was Tezcatlipocaf who was said to be the god of
the infernal I'egions, and to preside over the souls of men '.
He was likewise considered as the brother of the god of war.
His body was covered all over with figures representing little
devils witH tails of serpents, and was richly adorned with gold
and jewelb. Before this idol lay an offering of five human
hearts. On the summit of the whole temple was a recess
having its wood-work very highly ornamented, where we saw
a fijo^rc half human and ti:e rest like an alligator, all inlaid
with jewels, and partly covered by a mantle. He was con-
sidered as the germ and origin ol all created things, and was
VOL. IV. D worshipped
1 Ciavigero calls this the god of provid«ncei the soul of the world, the
creator of heaven and earth, and the master of all things, the rewtfder of
the just and the punisher of the wicked. — £.
,,.*c:«-f*'.u"*«4'>
50
Conquer qf Mexico part ii. book i*»
ill
wonhipped at the god of harvests and fruits. Here likewiso
the walls and altar were stained with blood like the others*
and so offensive thst we were glad to retire in all haste. In
this place there otood a drum of prodigious Bize, the head of
which was made of the skin of a large serpent, which resound-
ed, when struck, with a noise that might be heard at die dis-
tance of two leoffues, and gave out a sound so doleful, that it
might lie named the drum of hell. This dreadful drum, the
horrid sound of their horns and trumpets, and the shocking
sight of their great sacriBcial knives, tiie remnants of human
victims, and their blood-stained altars and fanes, made me
anxious to get away from this horrible scene of human but-
chery, detestable smells, and al)ominable sights.
:. Addressing himself to Montezuma, half jest half earnest)
Cortes expressed his astonishment how so wise a prince
could adore such absurd and wicked gods ; and proposed to
substitute the cross on the summit of the tower, and the
images of the Holy Virgin and her ever-blessed Son in the
adoratories, instead of those horrid idols, assuring him that
he would soon be convinced of the vani^ of his idolatry, and
the deception practised on him by these inhuman priests.
Montezuma was much displeased with these expressions,
saying that he would not have admitted us to the temple if
he had known wc were to insult his gods, who dispensed
health, good harvests, seasonable weather, and victory, and
vhom they were bound in duty and gratitude to adore.
Cortes dropped the subject and proposed to withdraw, to
which Montezuma assented, observing that he must remain,
and atone by an expiatory sacrifice ror having admitted us
into the temple. Cortes then took leave of the icing, and we
descended the steps, to the great inconvenience of our in-
valids. If I am not quite so correct as I wish and ought to
be in many of the things which I relate and describe, I must
beg my readers to consider the situation in which I then
8ei*ved, being under the necessity of giving more attention to
the orders of my officers than to the surrounding objects of
curiosity, llie teinple which we had just visited covered a
prodigious extent of ground, and diminished gradually from
the base to the platform on the top, having five concavities
like barbicans between the middle and the top, but without
parapets. On the broad platform of the summit there was a
tower in whicli the images were placed. But as there are
many paintings of temples in the possession of the conque-
iti"-*" t"i» 'V-V -K'H ■J«J fTKVJW?*' VIS??''!
rors,
CHAP. v« SBCT. tin. 6^ Hernando Cortes.
8^
rora, one of which I have, it will be easy to form an idea of
the structure of this temple from these representatipns *.
It was said by the Mexicans, that numerous offerings of gold,
aUrer, jewds, productions of the earth, and humtm victims
were deposited under the foundations of this great temple
at the time of its erection t and it is certain, when the ground
on which it stood was afterwards dii^ up for the church of
St Jago, that we found great quantities of gold, silver, and
other valuables on sinking the new foundations. A Mexican
also, who obtained a grant of part of this ground, diHcovered
a considerable treasure, about which there was a law-suit for
the royal interest. This account was confirmed by King
Ouatimotzln, who assured us that the circumstances were
recorded in ancient historical paintings. At a small distance
from the great temple, there stood a tower, having a gate or
entrance always open, like the mouth of an enormous mon-
ster, ready to devour those who enteretl this hell or habita-
tion of the demons. At this horrible door there stood many
frightful idols, beside which there was a place for sacrifice,
and within there were pots full of water ready to boil the
flesh of the victims, which formed the horrible repasts of the
priests. The idols were like serpents and 'devils, and the
place, all smeared over with human blood, was furnished with
knives for sacrifice like the slaughter-house of a butche. . In
another part of the buildings there were great piles of wood,
and a reservoiiT of water supplied by a pipe from the great
aqueduct of Chapoltepec. In one of the courts there was a
temple, all besmeared with blood and soot, surrounded by
the tombs of the Mexican nobility. In another court there
were immense piles of human bones, all regularly arranged.
Every temple had its peculiar idols, and each its regular es-
tablishment of priests, who were dressed in long black vest-
ments, something between the dress of our canons and the
Dominican friars. They all wore their hair long and clot-
ted with blood, and their ears were all lacerated in honour of
their abominable idols. At some distance from the temple
of the tombs, there was another of which the idols were said
to
9 Along with the work of Bernal Diaz, and in the history of Mexico by
Clavigero, there are reprcientationsof ancient Mexican temples. In both
they consist of six frustums of truncated pyramids, placed above each other,
haying a gallriiy or open walk around at each junction, and straight outside
stairs reaching between each gallery, not unlike the representations that bavr
been ideally formed of the tower of BabeI."-£.
5t
C\mJ«#«I I^MisicO PAIT II. BOOK II*
V
i
.
to preside over tnarriagei { and all the courts were surround-
ed bjr low houses for the priests and their numerous assists
ants. Hard by these was a large buiUing in which great
numbers of the Mexican young women resided, as in a nun-
nery, till they were married. They were devoted to the
worship of two female deities, who presided over marriagea,
to whom they sacrificed in order to obtain good husbands.
I have thus been diffbse in describing this great temple, as it
was by for the largest and most ^lendid in Mexico ) yet the
temple of Choiula was still higher, having liiO steps. This
was built on a different plan irom that of Mexico, and was
held in high veneration by the natives. The temple of
Tezcuco also was very large, being ascended by 117 steps,
and all these diffisred in uieir structure, though th^ all
agreed in having a number of outer courts, and a double in-
cisure. Every province of this country had its own peculiar
gods, who were supposed to have no concern with those of
other provinces, so that its gods and idols were quite in-
numerable. Having eifectually fatigued ourselves in. ex-
amining the objects I have just described, we retired to our
quarters.
As Monlczutna was entirely adverse to the proposal of
Cortes tor converting the great temple of Mexico into a
Christian church, he was exceedingly desirous to have a
chapel and altar in our quarters, and made implication to
Montezuma through one of his principal nobles to have ma-
terials for this purpose. Tliis request was immediately com-
plied with, and as abundance of timber and native workmen
were sent immediately, it was completed in three days. In
this new chapel mass was celebrated every day, though we
lamented the want of wine for the holy eUcluu'ist, as it had
been all expended during the ilkiess of Cortes, Olmedo, and
others, while we were m tlie dominions of TIascala. We
were extremely regular in our devotions, both because it was
our duty, and that we might impress a favourable opinion of
our holy religion on Montezuma and his sul^ects. While
our carpenters were lookins out for a proper place in which
to fix the holy cross of our cnapel, they observed the appear-
ance of a door in one of the walls of our quarters which had
been closed up. Cortes caused this to be privately opened,
and an apartment was found within, in whicn countless riches
were deposited. The secret soon transpired, and we went
all to view the concealed treasuiy. I was then a young man,
and
-x.i':^':;';^-;--
HHAP. V. SECT. vin« by Hernamdo CorUi. ii
and it leemcd to me that all the treaiures of the world aa-
thered together oould not have reached the amount of wnat
we then aaw. It waft thought prudent to close up the door
of this placC) and to conceal our knowledge of it and its oon>
tenU to a proper opportunity.
About this tinte Cortes convened a council of four cap-
Uins and twelve soldiers* of those in whom he had most con-
fidence, among whom I was, in order to consult upon our
present situation and future procedure. Having duly con-
sidered how obviously we had been hitherto guidod aiM pre-
served by the mercy of Odd, and how the natives, thou|^
now kino, might soon change through their native fickleness,
and notwi^standing the present hospitality of Montezuma,
he might at any time plot our destruction, wc unanimously
resolvea, on the su^estion of Cortes, that the most £t£K:ctual
measure for our security wa« to make that inonnreh our pri*
somer and the guarantee of our safety. We knew not but
we might all be poisoned in our food, and no gift which he
could nuke us, not. even all his fathers treasures' which we
had just discovered,, could compensate to us for the continual
alarms in which we lived. Some of the officers present at
the council, proposed to induce Montezuma by some plausi-
ble pretext to come to our quarters, when we could easily
seise him without resistance or danger. It was observed by
some of our soldiers, that we were not now so plentifully
supplied with provisions by the royal officers as at our first
coming I and that our interpreter, Aguilar, had been secretly
informed by two of our Tlascalan allies, that they had noticed
several indications of evil intentions towards us among the
Mexicans, for the lost two days. After a long consultation,
we agreed to adjourn the consideration of the means of exe-
cuting our resolution till next day; and in the meantime the
reverend Father Olmedo was consulted on the subject, and
we prayed Goo to guide and direct our proceedings for the
best, in our present ticklish and dangerous situation. Next
day, two Tlascalans arrived secretly with letters from Villa
Rica, with an account that Escalente and six Spaniards had
been slain in a battle with the Mexicans, and that the inha-
bitants of Chempoalla and the neighbouring mountains, who
had submitted to us, had revolted back to the Mexican go-
vernment, refusing to supply provisions, or to work on the
fortificntions, insomuch, that the remaining garrison of Villa
Rica Mrere in much distress and knew not how to act. These
. . letters
V.-vl
M
Constat ofMemco paat n. book ii.
Ictten Mid Kkewiw, that the hidi apinion which the natiTet
had adopted with reipect to the Spaniardi was much altered
for the worse, since tney found thejr could be killed like other
men. This intelliaence gave us much afflictimi. It was the
first defeat we had experienced since our landingi and had
produced a most alannmg change in our situation, and in the
opinions of the Mexicans. Before this, we were in possession
oi' wealth, and were considered as invulnerable, and almost
like demigods ) but were now lowered in the estimation of
the natives, almost to a level with tliemselves, in whose power
we were» It now seemM more necessary than ever to our
very existence tliat we should secure the person of Monte-
auma i considering that if we failed in the attempt, w<e might
as weD perish in whiat seemed our only chance of saftty, as
wait to be overwhelmed bv the whole power of the Mexican
empire. B^bve I proceed to narrate tne sequel of our trans-
actions in Mexico, I shall give an account of the misfortune
which befel fiscalentc ^
It has been already mentioned, that about thirty native
ohie& of districts in the neighbourhood of Villa Rica, had
voluntarily submitted to our government at Chiahuitztla.
After our little army had penetrated to the capital of the
Mexican empire, the commander of a garrison belonging to
Montezuma endeavoured to levy contributions from some
of these our new subjects : and when this was represented tp
Escalente, who commanded at Villa Rica, he sent orders to
the Mexican officers to desist, as otherwise he would be under
the necessity of chastising them, though he wished to remain in
peace and friendship witii the subjects of Mexico. To this
the Mexican officers sent a haughty reply, saying that he
would find them in the field. On receiving this answer,
Escalente, who was a brave man, set out with forty of his
own soldiers, and two thousand of our allies of the Totanaca
nation to march against the Mexicans, whom he found
pillaging the country, and immediately attacked them. Our
allies were always afraid of the Mexicans, and fled at the first
shower of arrows, leaving the Spaniards to get out of the
scrape as well as they might. They made their retreat with
great
S Clavigero pretends that the defeat and death of Escalente were known
to Cortes and his followers while at Choluia. This is jiighlj improbable,
both from the narrative of Diaz, and because Cortes would not certamly bav^
put himself entirely in the power of Montezuma, after this unequivocal'de<
inpnstration of resolute enmity.— £.
CUAV. V. 81CT. Till. ijf Hernando Cortes.
85
grratdifltculty to Villa Rica^, where £«calente and lix of his
loldien died of their wounds. A Spanish soldier named
Arguellot of great bodily strength, with a large head, and
thick friaxled beard, was taken alive, bat died of his wounds.
The Mexican captains reported the whole of this' afBdr to
Montezuma, to whom they brought the head of AroueUo {
and It is said that Montezuma trembled when he beheld it,
and ordered it to be taken out of the way. He reproached
bis captains for not having overwhelmed the whole of tliat
small number of Spaniards with their numerous forces » Imt
they alleged that a supernatural being fought against th. m,
.assisting and encouraging the Spaniards, and struck terror
into their meti.
Having finally resolved to seize Montezuma, we spent the
whole night bcrore procccciing on that hazardous enterpri^L ?
In earnest prayer to God, that what we were about to do
might redound to his holy service ; and in the morning we
nrrangeii the manner in which this our resolution was to be
executed. Our cavalry and infantry were all ordered to be
in readiness for instant action, and as it was usual with us to
go always fully armed, this circumstance save no suspicion to
the Mexicans. Leaving the whole of his forces prepared to
act in case of need, Cortes proceeded to the palace, attended
by five of his captains, Alvarado, Sandoval, De Lron, De
Lugo, and Avila ^t with the interpreters Donna Marina and
Aguilar, having first sent a message to the king, intimating
his intention to wait upon him. Montezuma supposi^ that
this visit of Cortes was on occasion of the afiair which had
lately occurred at Chiahuitztla, and that our general was
much displeased on that account, yet sent back that he would
be glad to see him. Our general, and we who voeie with him,
immediately went to the royal apartment, andaftei ,>..-ing
I his
4 In the original of Diaz they are said to have retreated to Almeria,
but this is an obvious mistake. Almeria, according to CI; vigero, II. £5,
was the name given by the Spaniards to Nauhtlani a city on the coast
of the Gulf of Mexico, thirty-six miles north of Vil:a ilica« which was
Sovemed by Quauhpopoca for Montezuma, and by whom the Mexican
etachment was commanded by which Escatente was defeated. — £.
a It is obvious firom a circumstance in the sequel of this story that Diaz
and othrr soldiers attended Cortes on this occasion. Clavigero, II. 77. says
there were twenty-five soldiers besides the five captains, who repaired two
by two to the palace, and joined Cortes there as if by accident. This daring
transat,tion took place eight days after the arrival of Cortes in the city of
Mexico. — £. lO
d
I«
Conquest tff Mexico part ii. book ii.
l!1
Il|t reifiects ag usual, Cortes addressed x^oQtejnima to the
j^lowiog effect thrpugh his intei^reters : " He was astoniiji-
(^ tl^at so brave and magnanimous a monarch, who had
wewn so m^ch fr^ndship for us on all occasions, should have
jislandestlncly given orders to his troops in Totomcapan^ to
make an attack upon the Spaniards whom he had left at
yilla Rica, in which one of them had been killed, and our
j||IUes the Totonacas had been pillaged and destroyed wit}ioi|t
inercy." Cortes intentionally concealed the death of Escalente
and his six soldiers, not wishing that the extent of our loss
on this occasion should be known to the Mexicans. He then
pharged Montezuma as the author of the treachery which had
been attempted against us in Cholula, saving, that he had
bitherto refrained from speaking on that subject, from motives
of esteem and r^ect ; but, from the late hostile attack by
, his governor of Totonacapan, and having learned that the
. officers of the court were plotting to cut us off in Mexico, it
became necessary for us to use effectual measures to secure
our safety. For this purpose therefore, and in order to pre-
, vent the ruin of the ci^y of Mt-xico, it was necessary that his
majesty should go inunediately to our quarters, assuring him
if he gave the smallest alarm, or made anv resistance, the
officers and soldiers then present would put him instantiv to
death. On heflring this proposal Montezuma was so petrified
with terror and amazement that he seemed to have lost all
sensation for a time. After recovering a little, he positively
denied having given any orders to Quauhpopoca tne gover-
nor of Nauhtlan to attack our troops under Escalente ; and
taking from his wrist the signet of Huitzilopochtli, which he
_ employed on all occasions of importance to confirm and ^-
force his orders, he gave it to one of his officers whom he
commanded to bring Quauhpopoca to court without delay to
answer for his conduct. Then assuming a dignified air, he
declined the proposal of quitting his prJace with disdain, de-
claring that he would not be constrained to take so humiliat-
ing a step. Cortes endeavoured to explain the necessity of
his immediate compliance, and the king persisted in his re-
fusal, so that the cpnversation drew to considerable length,
half an hour at leaaf having elapsed. The captains who ac-
companied
6 Diaz calli this Tuzapan ; but as Nauhtlan was in the country of the
Totonacas, called Totonacapan by the Mexicans, we have chosen here and
eveiTwhere else that this could ^e done with certainty, to adopt the ortho-
graphy of Ciavigero. — E. II - ..«.»;«
'n
CHAP. V. SECT. viii. ly Hfrnando Cortis.
$1
I to secure
compnnied Cortes bec^wuB Impatient of 4elay) fearing: t]^i|t
great numbers of the Mexican* ipight collect tP ^i9 r^sp^e of
weir sovereign, and tlujit we should b? cqppriBtl^ u^dior supe-
rior force. In this iil^mnia, De Leon o^^ikned in h|s rpi^h
voice to Cortes : " Why, Sir, do jrou waste so ropiy words ?
Tell him, that if he does not instantly jpeld hipMf our
prisoner, we will plunge our swords intp his body : Le(UB
now assure our lives or parish." Monte^unift wi|« much
struck with the manner in which Pe X^eon expressed himself,
and asked Donna Marina what he had said. She answered
with much discretion, by mildly advisine him to consent im-
mediately to go along with us, assuring him that he would be
treated with aU the honour and respect he could desire, whereas
she was convinced we would put him to death if herefiised or
even hesitated. Montezuma then offered to put his legiti-
mate son and two daughters into the hands of Cortes, as
hostages, and earnestly entreated that he mkrht not be ex*
posea before his subjects as a prisoner. But Cortes assured
him that nothing short of ftrhat had been originally propos^
could satisfy us, and that all remonstrances were unavailing.
At last he was obliged to consent, saying, " I trust myti^f
with you, let us go 1 let us go 1 since the gods will hav^ it so."
Our captains gave him every assurance of their perfect es-
teem and respect, b^;ging of him not to be offended at their
conduct, which was indispensably necessary to their own
safety, and requested that he would say to his officers that he
went of his own free will, and by the advice of his gods and
priests. His magnificent state litter was now brougm for his
accommodation, and he proceeded to our quarters in his ac-
c'lstomed pomp, attended by his guards, where he was receiv-
ed and entertained with every mbrk of respect ; yet our posts
and centinels were properly placed in every direction to guard
against his escape or rescue. He was soon waited on by the
princes of his family, and all the principal Mexican nobles,
who came to inquire the reason of this change of abode, and
whether it was his wish that they should attack us. But he
told them that he intended to remain with us for a few days,
and commanded them to take no steps which might disturb
thepeace of the city.
Inus we accomplished the seizure of the great Montezuma.
He was attended m our quarters with the same magnificence
as in his own palace t his wives, family, and officers being
constantly with him, and having always twenty chiefs or
, Vki ^ counsellors
^ ! '-1 ^
n
ilU:\<,nxi.
///
58 Conqueri^ Mexico part ii. book n.
eoBOwifeiv iq bis presflBce^ He bathed tytkiiiai-4etfi and $cp-
peared cdm and resigned to his fate. Ambassadors came to
him from all the provinces of his empire ; some to ddiver
Ae acowtmned tribute, and others to transact various aJ^yrs
of importance^ all of which was dispatched in the usual man-
ner. I perfectly remember that however ^eat might be the
I'irinces or chien yfho had to wait upon him^ they always took
otT their rich dresses and put on plain and coarse negtieh
clothes, and came into the royal apartments in this habit,
barefooted, not -entering directly, but making a circuit by the
wall. On etiteHkig the presence they kept their eyes cast
down on the '^otind, and after three profound reverences,
always began their addresses in these words, lord/ m^tordJ
great lord f They t^.en displayed certain cloths before him,
on which the business th(^ came upon was represented by
punting, the particulars of which they explained pointing
out the figures by means of nicely polished rods or wands.
While this was going on, two old nobles always stood beside
the king, who attentively considered every circumstance, on
which they gave him their opinions, and he then dispatched
the afiair in few words. The person who had the business
with the king then withdrew without reply, making three
profound reverences as before, always keeping his eyes on the
ground, and his face to the thtone till out of sight. On leav-
ing the royal apartments, they reassumed their rich dresses,
in which they walked about thie city.
Tlie messengers who had been dispatched with the royal
signet to arrest the officers against whom Cortes had com-
plained for the attack on Escalente, soon returned with them
to Mexico. I know not what passed in the royal presence
when they f^peared before the king ; but he sent them im-
mediately to Cortes to do with them as he pleased. On their
examination, when the king was not present, they avowed all
that had happened in Totonacapan, but said that th^ had
acted by orders from Montezuma, by whom they had been
commanded [to levy the royal tribute, and even to attack the
Spaniards if they should support the refractory subjects of
the empire. On Montezuma being charged with this, he
endeavoured to exculpate himself; but Cortes told him, that
although his participation in the guilt of his officers was ap-
parent, and aithougn he had been commanded by hio own
sovereign to punish with death all who had infiictea deatl\ on
any of the Spaniards, yet he had so great a regard for his
"*^~ maje?ty,
•■ijiJmrjw -.iisiifi-
«HAP. t. sBer. tin. fty Skmando Cortes.
m
majesty, that he would sooner loose his own Ufe than do-lum
any injury. Notwithstanding these assurances, Montezuma
was in ffreat tear of being put to death. Gortas sentenced
the Mexican officers to be burnt alive in front of their kings
palace, which was immediately carried into execution } aiid
to prevent any commotion while this was taking ttkice, he
ordered Montezuma to be put in irons. The unfortunate
king could not suppress his sense of this indignity, and wept
aloud when the fetters were put on. After the ex«cution was
over, Cortes went into the apartment of Montezumo, attend-
ed by his five captains formeiiy mentioned, and took olTthe
irons with his own hands, assuring him with a cordial embrace,
that he loved him more even than a brother, and that he
hoped soon tb extend his dominions to more than double their
present size. He is said also to have told him that he waa
now at liberty to return to his own palace, if he so wished j
but we understood that Cortes ordered the interpreters to in-
form Montezuma, that he was inclined to set him at libeirtiy,
but that the other officers refused their consent. The spirit
of the unfortunate king was now entirely subdued, and the
tears ran down his cheteks while Cortes was speaking : He
declined the offer with thanks, well knowing the emptmeseof
his words ; adding, that he thought it most prudent to remain
where he was, to prevent an insurrection in the city. Mon-
tezuma requested Cortes to give him his pa^, Orteguilla, a
youth who had already made considerable progress in the
Mexican language. Cortes imniediat«/y complied, and
Ort^uilla remained afterwards constantly about the kings
person, as Montezuma took great delight in inquiring from
nim many particulars respectmg the manners and customs
of Europe; and, from his knowledge of the languag^e,
Orteguilla was of great service to us in the se(]uel, by com-
municating every circumstance that was of importance for
us to be made acquainted with. Montezuma continued to
reside among us, always treated with the utmost respect and
attention, as no officer and soldier, even Cortes, ever cam&
into his presence or even passed him, without taking of
his helmet. He always treated us in return with much
courtesey.
The Mexican officers who were publickly executed, were
four in number. Of these Quauhpopoca was the principnJ,
two of the others were named Coqtl and Q^iabuifl, but I have
i»
Conquest (^ Mexico part ii. book ii.
yi'
f^irgoi the luutte of the fourth 7. As soon as tlus punish-
paeQt wiu) imde known throughout the provinces of the Mexi^
fSfui empire* i% occasioned universal terror among the natives,
Ittd the people of Tnitonacapan immediately returned to
imbiniwion to our g^nison at ViUa Rica.— Let me now pause,
«|k) re!^est my reat-ers ;;o consider the train oi our no'oic
•ct4 which I have airec.Iy related. FirU., we dcstroved our
ships, hy which wt dut off all hope of retreat. Seeomdfy^
we entered the city of Mexico, in spite of the many alarm-
iiig warnings we nad received. Thirdly ^ we made Monte*-
suma, the sovereign of that great and populous empire, a
prisoner, in the midst of his own palace and capital, sur-
iDunded by numerous guards. Fourthhf, we publickly burnt
lii^ officers in firont of his palace, ond put the king in irons
during the exectitioni, I now fre(]uently revolve upon these
great events in nny «)ld age, whkh still appear as fresh in my
memory as if t^y had only happened yesterday. I say to
B^rs^, it was not nae who did those mishty thing^, but we
were ^ded therein by the hand of Goo. For without his
direcuoq, how was it ip be conceived that so small a number
aa we were, not amouniting to ibur hundred and fifty moi,
should have dared to seite and put in irons^ and publickly
hum his officers for obeying his orders, in a btty larger and
more populous than Venice, and IdOO leagues from our
own oountiy*
It was necessary to appoint a successor in the command at
Villa Rica, and accordingly Cortes gave the command to A-
lonzo de Orado, an indilferent soldier, but a good speaker,
a handsome man, a musician, and a ready writer, who had
alwavs l)cen adverse to our marching to Mexico, and was the
(diief orator on these occasions, in conveying the sentiments
of the opposite party to Cortes. On notifying this apnoint-
taent, Cortes said to him Jocular^, " Senior de Grado,
you are now commandant of Villa Kica. See that you forti-
fy it well ; but I charge you not to go to war with the M'ick-
ed Indians, lest they kill you as they have done Juan de Es-
calente." Thb was said ironically, as Cortes well knew he
would not venture out of his garrison for any consideration.
As we noticed the concealed meaning of Cortes in these words,
we
7 According to Claivgero, II. 83. Quauhpopoca« hit ion, and fifteen o*
ther nobles were cruelly put to death on thii occation. Diaz names the
principal chief Quetzalpopoca.~£.
cUAr. V. SBCT. viii. iy Hernando Cortes,
61
we could hardly refrain from laughing atond. He then ad-
joined him to be kind to the nativtw, and to protect them
trom oppression ; to use all diligence in completing the for-
tifications of the wooden fort* and to cause two large chains
to be made from the old iron of the destroyed i^ips, by the
smiths at Villa Rica, which were to be soit immediatdy to
Mexico. De Grado, on arriving at his government, assum-
ed a lofty demeanour, and ordered the neighbouring Indiana
who were allied with us, to send him gold and fcmaws slaves^
neglecting the fortifications, and spending his time in feast-
ing and dee}) play. What was still worse, he plotted with
the adherents of Velasquez to deliver up to bim the post
with which h'e had been entrusted. When Cortes learned
these things, he repented of having employed a person whose
bad dispositions he well knew in a post of so much impor-
tance, and sent therefore Sandoval, our alguazil-major to sn-
persede him. Sandoval was accompanied by Pedro de Ircio,
who used to amuse him with anecdotes of the families of the
Conde de Ureno and Don Pedro Giron, by which means he
gained the favour of Sandoval, who never ceased promoting
im till he got him to the rank of captain. On his arrivd
at Villa Rica, Sandoval arrested De Grado, and sent him
prisoner to Mexico, under a guard of Indians, by order of
Cortes, who would not see him on his arrival, but ordered
him to be confined in the stocks, where he remained two days.
De Grado afterwards made his peace, and got the ofiice of
cootador, in place of Avila, who was sent over to Hispanioiia
as procurador. Sandoval made himself exceedingly popular
among the natives in the neighbourhood of Villa Rica, and
diligently applied to complete the fortifications. He like-
wise sent tu Mexico by order of the general, all the iron-
work necessary for the construction of two vessels which
were ordered to be built for sailing on the lake.
Every day after mass Cortes went with all his oflicers to
pay his respects to MontCibUma, asking his orders, the king
always affecting to be perfectly contented with his situation.
On these occasions the discourse frequently turned upon the
principles of our holy faith, and the power of our emperor
Don Carlos. At other times Montezuma and Cortes used
to play at a game called totoloque by the Mexicans, in which
they aim Utth golden balls at certain other objects made of
gold. Once, when Cortes and Alvarado were playing against
Montezuma and his nephew, the king said in a jocular man-
ner.
^ fl
- \
"wmiiM^ff V» -I "n'.i'ji I
■"■ I "nm
69
tUir^jiusi ^/ Mexico part ii. book ii/
■^
i!
Iff I
\
nc that h^ would hot allow TonatiUf for so ho coUed i^Uvft-
nuio on account of h'lA handiomencm, to mark« m H he
cheated ; on which we .11 fell n lauvhing, as we kn^vr AW:i«-
rado was rather g^iven *:( > exaggeration. On these c casiiori^
Corteifgave all \:.s winnings among the Mrxscan ei'snvlant'i
of the king j and Monte euma di: ; ributed his .imong us sol-
diers of the guard. Indeed he evoi v day mofh pros, nts to
all of us who attended him, md part^c>!]arly to Vilasoues de
Iieon, the captain of his .sfun ' d, who alwuys treated hini with
much respect end attention. One night, a soldier named
TruxillO) was guilty of a very disrespertful aciion within his
hearing, at which iViontezuma was much ofFertdcd^ end asked
thejiago ' >ricguilk who h'ld committed this extreinsruderssss.
Ortettci'S<!. told him that TruxSlio was a person of low bii-ih,
and km v' no b^'n.er, anc then gave him an account of our
different nriUs u uH ciiaractcrs, oy which he was much grati-
fied. He t v next day for Truxillo, and aftor reproving
him for hlh vniuaimeriy behaviour, made him a present worth
five crov.'ua. Next uight, Truxillo committed a siutilar rudn>
ness, in hopes to get more ffold, but Montezuma < omplained
to Dc Leont who ordered Truxillo to be relieved, aher which
kc gave him a severe reprimand. Another night, a soldier
namod Pedro Lopez happened to be unwell, and cursed that
dog of an Indian, meaning Montezuma, for occasioalnff so
much trouble. The king overheard this and discovered its
meaning, on which he complained to Cortes, who ordered
tlie man to be whipped. After this, proper discipline and
strict silence were preserved by the guard, which greatly
pleased the king, who knew us all, and used to address us by
our names, and was always very kind to us. I was then a
young man, and always behavec^ to him with much respect.
The page had informed him that I had been twice on the
coast of nis empire before the arrival of Cortes, and that I
had desired him to say to his majesty that I would be much
obliged to him for a handsome Indian girl. He very gra-
ciously complied with this request, and calling me before
him, addressed me to the following effect : " Bernal Diaz,
the young woman I now present to you is the daughter of
one of my principal nobles ; treat her well, and her relations
will give you as much gold, and as many mantles as you can
desire." 1 respectfully kissed his hand, thanking him for his
gracious condescension, and prayed God to bless and pros-
per him. On which he observed, tliat my manner spoke me
of
," I
CHAP. y. SECT. Tin. bjf Hemando Cortes. 611
of nqble extraction, and he ordered me three plates of flold*
and two loads of mantles. In the morning* alter his uevo-
tionsi according to the manner of his country, Montezuma
used to eat a light breakfast of vegetables seasoned with agi,
which is a kind of pepper. He thai «mpk>yed a full hour
in ibe dispatch of busmess, in the way I have formerly men-
tioned, being attended at this time by tweinty counsellors ;
and in this way, sometimes amusing himself, and sometimes
meditating on his situation, he spent the time of his confine^
ment among us. He had many mistresses, and he used o&
ten to give away some of these in marriage among his offi-
cers and particular friends. Some of these ladies tell to our
lot, and tne one I got was a lady of high birth, as she shew-
ed by her manner } after her baptism mc was called Donna
Francisca.
After the iron materials, with sails and cordage had arriv-
ed from Villa Hica, Cortes asked leave from Montezuma to
build two brigantines for the purpose of his amusement on
the lake, and also that he would order the native carpenters
to assist in their construction. Montezuma readily consent-
ed, and its there was plenty of oak at no great distance, the
work went on expcditiousily under Martin Lopez our princi-
pal ship-builder, so that the two brigantines were soon built,
launched, and rigged. While this was going on, Montezu-
ma begged to be allowed to perform his devotions in the
great temple, that his friends and subjects might be satisfied
e lived among us by his own choice, jund the permission, of
his gods. Cortes granted this, under a strict caution to be-
ware of doing any thing that might bring his life in hazaix),
as he would send a strong guard ak>ng with him, with o)xk>rs
to put him to death instantly if any \x^MWH>tion sIhhiM arise
among the people. Cortes likowi^ie ut»i«ittxl that no human
sacrifices should be permitttxl vH» tho occasion. All this
being agreed to, Monte^/uttia N4f< <mit R>r the temple in his u-
sual pomp, ntteudcd by K>ur ot ottr captains, xnd an hundred
and fifty Spanish soliiiers, Fathtsr Olmetlo being likewise ^^i'e-
sent, to prevent any human Sktcvifices. Montc%uiti»K» came
out of his litter near the tewiple, where he was wet by a
number of priests, who cart ied him up the steps. They had
sacrificed lour Imlians the night before to their accursed
idols, as nil our ^'iKleawwrs were insufficient to stop that a-
bominable practice, whic4\ we were forced ti» connive at for a
season, t)eing afraid t\^ do any thing which might occasion
an
i,
\ I
.7
#4 CoHfktti (^ Mexico tAWt n, mo6liU.
an infturrecdon. After remaining a ihort time at bis d«TO-
tioM, Montesuma came down fir^ the tettiple, and returned
to our quitrtEn in much ffood humour, and made presents to
all of us who had atten^d him.
Our two brigantines were now a^oat on the lalte, fully c-
quipped, and manned by expert sailors, and were found >
obey both sail and oar to a wish. When Montezuma learnt
fhia, ho leniiested to go a-hunting to a certain district which
t
was tuil oi game, all other nersons being prohibited from
huntinff there under pain of ueath. Corm gcu'lM per/»i>-
sion. giving warning thut lii* life would pay the forfeit of the
smallest attempt to escape, Mild (i''l'iml Ifilii fli» mu of our
, ships to convey him to the hunting ground, which fie accept-
ed with much pleasure. The king and his suit embarked in
the swiftest of the two vessels, and the other accommodated
his son and a number of nobles. Four of our ciiptnins : t-
tended the king, with a auard of two hundred soldiers, and
fbur brass guna, with their ammunition and artillerymen,
were embarked on the occasion. The wind was fresh, and
our sailors took areat delight in exerting their utmost skill.
Our shins seemed to fly along the lake, and left a prodigious
multitude of the canoes of the Mexicans far behind. Mon-
tezuma landed at tlie place kept for his hunting, which a-
bounded in ffame, so that he soon procured a grcnt riiiRnlity
pf various kmds, such as deer, hares, and rabbits } and llaV-
Ing satisfied himself with sport, he rcimbarked and came
>ack to Mexico. We discnargod our artillery during the
.^ voyage, which gave him much amusement. He delighted us
: all by his aifliuility and noble behaviour, and was ht^lil by
every one of us in the highest respect. It happened one
day, while three of our captains were in his presehce, that n
hawk dew into the apartment in pursuit of a quail, both these
birds and doves being bred about the palace. On this occa-
sion our officers and soldiers admired the beauty and fine
flight of the hawk, and Montezuma was curious to know
tlie subject of their discourse : It was accordingly explained
to him, as likewise that we were accustomed to tame nawks,
.^ and to fly them from our Imnds in pursuit of game. On this
Montezuma gave immediate orders to have the hawk caught
fbr us, and the very same bird was caught and brought to us
noct morning.
Cacaniatzin prince of Tezcuco, the largest town in the em-
pire next to Mexico, took great umbrage at hearing that his
uncle
4IIAP. v. sKCT. VI J I. ' bjf Hernando Cortes. 65
uncle Montezuma had been kept many daya pi^iioner by the
Spiiniardi, and that we had opened uie treasury of hit an-
cestors. He therefore called a meeting of his principal va^
sals, and of the neighbouring princes or great feudatories <^
the Mexican empire, among whom was the lord of Matlat-
zinco, a renowned warrior and near relation of Montezuma, /
who was reported to have some pretensions to the throne.
His intention in summoning these princes was to persuade
ihe^ to assemble their forces, in order to attack us, and on
making this proposal to the assembled chiefs, he of Matlat*
zinco offered to concur with his whole force, on condition
tt]flf tliey would raise him to the throne of Mexico. But
Cacanifttziii alleged that he had a preferable claim to that
dignity, and declarea lie would destroy the Spaniards
wUn Ills own forces, for which purpose he entered into ar«
rangemonts with his parlisads in Mexico. The whole of this
plan was reported to Montezuma, wlio immediately command-
ed his nephew Cacamatzin to desist from nis preparations, and
comnmnicated the Information he had received to Cortes, who
had already received some notice of what was goiQg tar* •
wards, but not to the full extent. Cortes immediately pro-
posed to go at the head of a detachment of the Spaniardsy
Hrirl i\ Inrgt! body of Mexican troops, and to destroy Tezcucoj
but OS tills proposal did not please Montezuma, Uortes sent
a fHB»»agu to Cacamatzin, requiring him to desist from his w«w.
like preparations, and declaring his wish to have him. for »
friend. Cacamatzin answered, that he would not become
the dupe of plausible words like others, and meant soon to
Iiay us a visit, when he would listen to what we had to say..
in a second message, Cortes warned him not to proceed to
hostilities, which would certainly occasion the death of hia
uncle { but he replied, that he cared neither for Montezuma
nor Cortes, and was determined to act as he thought pro*
per.
Cacamatzin had a brother named Cuitcuitzcatzin, who re«<
sided in Mexico, having been obliged to take refuge there in
consequence of a family quarrel. As this was known to ua^^
Cortes proposed that Cacamatzin should be brought toMoti-
co, where wc would seize him unless he agreea to presery*
the peace, or might substitute his brother in the government
of Tezcuco. Montezuma agreed to send for him, and assur*
ed us, if he refused to come, he would give orders to bring
him by force. Cortes thanked the king for this instance ^
vol,. IV. n ■ ^i^
06
Conqnat ofMexka pabt ii. bckmc it.
hit fldelityi declaring th«t he now only remained in Mexico
fto protect him againat hia t ^bellioiM auhjects* and would lac^
happy to reinstate him in hij own palace, but could not pre*
vau on the KMt of the %>anish cim>taint to agree to this mea*
sure. Monteauma said in reply, that he would immediate^
tmnimit information to Cacamatzin, that hit present resi-
denoe was entirely of his own free will, and by the advice of
their gods j for Montezuma was perfectly aware of the simu-
lation of CotU» in his declarations, and endeavoured to fight
hiih with his own weapons. He accordingly sent a message
to the prinee in the proposed terms ; but Cacamatain under*
stood tne manner in whkh his undo was constrained to act,
and declared his determination to assail our quarters with*
in four days, saying that Montesuma was a despicable mo*
narch, for having neelected to attack us at the Port of Chal-
CO, as he had adviseX That he was resolved to be avenged
of the wrongs which we had heaped upon Montezuma and
his country, and that if the throne of Mexico should &11 to
his lot during the contest, he u-ould liberally reward all who
assisted him against the Spanish invaders. Several of the
Mc9iio9n chiefs who were luong with Cacamatzin, expressed
their scruplea abont entering into war without the orders of
their legitimate sovereign-, and proposed to send to him for
instrucnons. Cacamatzin was enraged at this proposal, as
adverse to his views of assuming the crown of the Mexican
empire, and immediately ordered three of the most refractor
Xinto custody { by which procedure the rest were intimi-
ted into compliance with his plans. He then sent a mes*
•oge to Montezuma, representing the disgrace into which he
had fallen, by joining himsdf with wizards and magicians, and
declared his resolution to destroy us all. Montezuma was
muoh trffended by the proud independence assumed by his
nmhew, whom he now resolved to circumvent and make
prisoner. For this purpose he entrusted his signet to six of
nis oi^tauls, whom he commanded to shew it to certain other
leaden among his subjects, who were not well afiected to the
prince, and to communicate to them his orders to seize Ca-
camatzin and bring him prisoner to Mexico. These men went
accordingly to wLjre Cacamatsin was consulting with the
omifederate chiefs on the arnin -ment of his expedition ; and
shewing the royal signet with wnich tljcy were entrusted, they
secured him and five of his principal chiefs without opposi*
tion, and brought them away to Mexico. Cacamatzin, being
* brought
CHAP. V. sicT. VIII. 6y Hernando Cortes,
«t
una was
broimht into th« pretence of Montezuma, was reproached by
him for his disobedience and treason, and th«ti delivered over
to Cortesf but the other prisoners were released.
Arranoements were immediately made for ndsing Cuit-
ouiUcattin, one of the brothers of Cacamatzin, to the princi*
palitv of Teascuco^ who was aooordingly invested wiUi thu '
dignity in the presence of Blontesuma, and sent over with a
i^ndid retinue to take possession of the government K
l^s important business being c<Mnpleted to our entire sad»*
fiiction, we continued to reside in Mexico, paying our court
to Montezuma with the utmost demonstrations of respect, yet
detaining him always a prisoner in our quarters.
Cortes now resumed a proposal which had been formerly
made, for Montezuma acknowledging the sovereignty of our
emperor over him and his dominions ) to which Montezuma
repued, that he woukl summon a council of all his dependent
princes, which he did accordingly, and almost the whole of
them attended in the course of ten days. Among a few who
absented themselves on this occasion, was the chief of MatlaN
zinco, who has been already mentioned as renowned for hiH
warlike prowess. He sent back an answer, that he woald
neither obey the summons nor pay any more tribute. Mon-
tezuma was much incensed by this contumacious message
from his vassal, and sent officers to apprehend hin)* but th^
were unable to succeed. The princes and feudatories being
all assembled, Montezuma reminded them of the ancient pro-
phecies, by which it was foretold to their ancestors, that a
people was to come from the region of the rising sun, to
whom the empire of the country was to be tvansftrlred. He
added, that he believed the Spaniards to be the people spoken
of in that prqshecy ; and had sacrificed to his gods in vain
to give him a distinct revelation on the subject, but they re-
ferred him to the former responses, and commanded him to
ask no more. From all this he concluded that they willed
him to yield obedience to the king of Castile, who was the
sovereign of these strangers. *< I now," said he in condr-
sion, ** beseech you to agree to this submission, which is re-
quired of me by the Spaniards. During the ei^teen years
whidi
8 Diaz says that he aswmed the name af Ddn Carlw «a this occasion ;
but docs not^ allege evea that he had been baptised. This name was pro-
bably merely imposed upon him by the Spanish soldiery ; or he may have
acquired it on becoming a Christian after the conquest of Mexico was com-
pleted.—E.
''^jL
6b
Conquest <f Mexico part ii. book ii.
P
which I have reignod, I have ever been a kind monarch to
yout mmI you have always been &ithtiil nibjecti. Since our
gods will have it to* let no one refuiie this instance of obedience
ifhich I now ask." Hie princes, with many sighs and tears,
promised to do every thing he might desire. 'iVIonteiania, who
way still, more affected than they, sent a messa^ to infiurm
Cort^, thyat he oiid his princes would tender their all^iance
to our emjperor next day. This was occordingly done at the
.time (mpomted, in presence of oil our officers and many of
our sploiers, none of whom coukl refrain from tears, at be*
holding the distress and agitation of the great and generous
Montezuma on this humiliating occasion.
Some time afterwards, when Cortes and his captains were
conversingwithMontezumaon various topics, the general made
inquiry relative to the gold mines of the empire, when Monte-
zuma mformcd him that the richest of these were in the pro-
vince of Zacatula or Zacatollan, and said that the gold was
procured by wadiing the earth, the small grains of metal
sinking to the bottom during the operation. He also sold
that it was obtained from two rivers in the province of. Ouz-
;tq)eque, where the natives were not subjects to his empire ;
but, if Cortes chose to send some troops to that place, he
would order his officers to accompany them. Cortes accord-
ingly sent the pilot Umbria and two soldiers to examine the
mines of Zacatula ; and sent his relation Pizarro, to the ter-
ritories of Chinantia and Zapoteca. Pizarro was then a
young man, and at that time his name and that of Peru, now
so famous, were both equally unknown. Pizarro, who was
one oi our captains, took with him four soldiers who were
used to mining, and four Mexican nobles ( and Montezuma
(wesented Cortes with a map of the whole, northern, or
rather eastern coast of the Mexican empire, admirably re-
presented in painting, ext^ding ot least an hundred and
forty leagues, all the way to Tabasco. Among the rivers
said to produce gold, was that of Huatzocoalco, which Cor-
tes wished to have examined, and Diego de Ordas offering
himself for this purpose, was reluctandy accepted by Cortes,
as he was a person on whom he de))cndcd for sound judgment
and wholesome advice on occasions of importance. Before
his departure, Montezuma told Ordas, that the power of the
crown of Mexico did not extend over the country to which
he was going, but that he was welcome to the assistance of the
frontier jjarrlsons. Umbria returnc(l first from his mission,
„:,c.„ ..„.x'..:i j:. j ■ f^ . bringing
*— >* K***... ■•»*•<-' -.!»»>* '-fl^^^
cHAV. V. SECT. mi. bjf Hernando Cortes*
le nvers
bringing with him gold to the value of three hundred crowiu
Mid reported that the mines midht be made very productive,
it' th^ were as expertlv managed as those of Hispaniola and
Cuba. Two principal persons of the district accompanied
him to Mexico, who brought a present of gold to the value of
about a hundred crowns, and onered to submit themselves and
country to the sovereignty of our emperor. Umbria and his
companions described the country which they had visited as
extremely rich and populous, and he and his companions ap-
peared to have done something handsome for themselves on
the expedition, which Cortes winked at in order to make up
for some former differences.
Ordas, on his return, said that he had passed through
very populous districts, in all of which he was well received.
That he found several bodies of Mexican txoojp* on the fron-
tiers, of whose outrages the natives of the country made heavy
complaints, on which account he had severely reprehended
the commanders of the troops, threatening them with a simi-
lar punishment with what had been inflicted on the lord of
Nauhtlan. He had sounded the river of Huatzcoolco, where
he found three fathoms water on the bar at low tide in the
shallowest part, and still deeper within, where there was a
place very proper for a naval establishment. The caciquea
and natives treated him with much hospitality, and offered
themselves as vassals to our emperor, but complained loudly
against the exactions of Montezuma and his officers, and
Kinted out a place ^ere they had lately slain many of the
exican troops, which they had named Cuilonemequi^ or the
Place of laughter of the Mexicans, on whom they bestowed
the most opprobrious epithets. He represented the soil of
the country as well fitted for tillage and the rearinff of cattle,
and the port as well situated for trade with Cuba, Hispaniola,
and Jamaica j but as inconvenient, from its distance from
Mexico, and unhealthy owing to the morasses in its vicinity.
PizaiTo returned from Tustepeque or Tzapotecapan, witb
goI4 in grains to the value of a thousand crowns. He report-
ed, that m going into the mountains inhabited by the Chi-
nantlans, they new to arms and would not permit the Mexi-
cans t,o enter into their country, threatening to put them aU
to death i but admitted him and his Spaniards with great at-
tention.^ He brought several of the chiefs of that countiv
along with him to Mexico, who wished to shake off the Mexi-
can yoke, and to become subjects to our emperor. Cortes then
inquired
m
i:
i
90
i'f~
V. u.
' CI[mffMi# qfMsxico part ii, book ii
inquired at Pixarro for the solflien who had accompanied
him, when Picarro answered, that finding the country rich and
the peofde friendly, he had left them to malce a plantation of
Qocoa, and to explore the riven and mines. Cortes sa}d no-
thinff to him in public, but gave him a severe private rqsri-
Inand for employing the soldiers in such foolish pursuits, con-,
trary to hia orders, and immediately sent a message command-
ing their return to head-quarters.
Cortes now proposed to Montezuma to order a general
contribution in gold to be collected through the whole of his
dominions, as a tribute to our emperor, and also that he
should deliver up his treasure for the same purpose. Mon-
tezuma accordingly sent orders to his officers in those districts
where the mines were situ 1, commanding them imme-
diately to traasroit a cer*^' juantity of gold plates, of the
size usually paid as tribute, two of which were sent as patterns.
He remaned at the same time, thai there were many districts
of the empire from which sold was pot to be expected in any
considerable quantity, as uiey had no mines, and the natives
had only such golden toys amons them as they had inherited
from their ancestors. Much gora was immediately tranr.mit-
ted to Mexico from the rich provinces in compliance with the
order; but when it was communicated to the refractory lord
of Matlatzinco, formerly mentioned, he haughtily answered,
that he would pay no tribute, for he had as good a right as
Montezuma to the throne of Mexico. Montezuma was much
enraged at this insolent message, and immediately sent somp
tms^ officers with his signet, who succeeded in apprehending
this redoubted chief. Un he'ma brought prisoner into the
presence of the kins, he behaved with so much insolence that
Montezuma ordered him to be put to death ; but Cortes in-
terceded for him, and got his punishment transmuted to im-
prisonment. He even endeavoured to make a friend of this
chief, and proposed to have him set at liberty, but Montezu-
ma insisted that he should be kept in chains along with Ca-
camatzin.
Twen^ days after the orders had been issued for collecting
the tribute, it was all brought to Mexico, on which Monte-
zuma siunmoned Cortes into his presence, along with the
captains and the soldiers who formed his usual guard, and
addressed us as follows : ** Being indebtJed to your great
king, whom I much esteem for having sent you as his am-
ba^adors to me from so great a distance, and as I am con-
n vinced
.''t.
«HAF. ▼. tBCT. Till. iQf Hernando Cortes.
i^inced by the prophecies tranamitted to uh by our ancestors»
and confirmed by our gods, that he is destined to rule over
U8, take this gold, which is all I could collect on so short a
notice, and abo the treasure which I inherited from my an«
cestors which you have already seen ; send all this to your
emperor> and let it be recorded in your chronicles that this is
the tribute from his vassal Montessuma. Besides all this, I
shall give you tor your monarch, a quantity of our most va*.
luable jewels, which we call calchihuis ', every one of which
is worth two loads of cold, and three tubes for shooting darts
or pellets, so richly adorned with jewels that he will be pleas*
ed with them. Accept all this as an instance of my good
will, tor it is the last of my treasure." We all immediately
took otf our helmets, and gave our hearty thanks to Monte-
zuma tor his munificent and liberal gift, which Cortes pro-
mised should be presented to the emperor* with a just repre*
sentation of the merits of the donor. We were empl(^ed
for three days in taking to pieces the gold contained in the
various ornamental articles in the concealed treasury, which
was now delivered up to us by the command of Montezuma,
in which we were assisted by the royal goldsmiths fram the
town of Escapiizalco. When separated and weighed, these
articles weighed to the value of above 600,000 o'owns, be-
sides many other articles of value, and exclusive of gold in
plates and bars, and in its rough state as brought from tne
mines. All this gold was melted down by the goldsmiths^
and oast into bars of three fingers breadth, all of which wern
stamped with the royal armrv, with our entire approbation.
The rest of the present of Montezuma Was worthy of great
admiration, consisting of the jewels called calchihui^ orna-
mented tubes covered with gold and jewek, beautifui embroi-
deries of pearls and feathers, plumes of feathers^ and an end-
less variety of rich manufactures } and it was unaniuvausly
Agreed l)y us all not to take these rich ornaments to pieces.
After the royal officers had weighed and valued the gold,
which exceeded, as I have already nentioned, 600,000 crowns,
exclusive of the sUyer .»i)d other, .oriuuneiital articles, it
was
*■' . Jm*- .J^tl'1*i>!?'>, ! ils.^5 m*U%§!^ hMSs.^
pressed
9 It is uapoMible now to tay what were thew jew«U to lAuch vi'ued bjr
the Mexicans. Clavigiero, I. 422, esumerates among their pretMrus stones,
** £mer?Ms, amethysts, tornelians, turquoises, and others not known in Et^-
rope." In another patsage, I. 424, he mentions many small red stones u-
nular to rubies, as among ths ^vlejucan curiosities transmitted to Charley V.
by Cortes.— E.
... i.i4&ii'i^Li-,5i:»>l--'.^Jt
Hit
\ t
Conqutit of Mexico I'Aivr ii. bookii^'
propmed to deduct the royal fifth, and to distribute the
lifaarefi among the officers and soldiers. Cortes proposed to
postpone the division till we Acquired more treasure, and had
more exact weishts : But the soldiers were clamorous lor an
immediate division, as we perceived that above a third part
had disappeared since the various aiticice wore tuken to pieces,
Cortes and the captains and others being continually cariying
it awav and conoealing it for their own use. It was at length
agreea to make the division next day, when it was still found
to exceed 600,000 crowns in weight. On making the divi-
aion, Cortes in ihejirst place caused a fifth to be laid aside
for his majesty ; secondly^ a fifth for himself, as had been
agreed upon ; thirdly ^ a portion to reimburse the naval ex-
penditure incurred by Velasquez, the destruction of the ships,
and ail the expences of the expedition from Cuba } fourthly,
for the expences of the agents whom we had sent to ^ain ;
fifthly, for the shares of our companions who were in garrison
at Villa Rica } sixthly, for the value of the horses which had
been killed { seventhly, for the reverend Father Oimeda and
our captains } eighthly, double shares for the cavalry, muske-
teers, and crossbow-men. When all these deductions were
made from the stuck, the shares which remained for each
soldier were hardly worth acceptance, not exceeding 100
crowns a-man. We were obliged to submit, having no one
to appeal to for justice } yet many were very clamorous, whom
Cortes secretly endeavoured to appease, giving a little to one
and a little to another in private, and feeding all with tair
promises. Our captains got chains of gold made for them
by the Mexican workmen. Cortes did the same, and had a
superb service of gold plate made for his table. Many of our
soldiers, who had been fortunate in secreting plunder, had
golden ornaments made for their use, ond gave themselves
up to deep gaming, for which purpose they made cards from
drum-heads ; and" thus we passed our time in Mexico. One
Caixlenas, a pilot, who had a wife and children, seeing that
all the immense treasure of Montezuma had dwindled down
to paltry shares of a hundred crowns, made loud complaints
of the injustice he and all of us had experienced. On this com-
ing to the ears of Cortes, he called us together, and gave us a
long honied speech, wondering how we should be so clamor-
ous about a paltry sum of gold, as the whole country, with
all its rich mines, would soon be ours, by which we would all
have enough to make us lords and princes, and I know not
all
T.-^J'.
tHLV. ▼. SECT. Viit. hy Hernando Cortes,
^
all what. After this he distributed presents secretly among
the most clamorous, and promised Cardenas io send home
^0 crowns to his wife and children.
All men are desirous of acquiring riches, and the desire
generally increases with the acquisition. As it was well known
that a great many valuable pieces of gold had been abstracted
from the treasury, suspicion naturally fell upon severd per-
sons who appeared to nave more gold than their shares »•
mounted to. Among these, it was noticed that Velasquez de
Leon had some large chains of gold, and many trinkets and
ornaments of that metal, in the hands of the Mexican work-
men, which the treasurer Mexia claimed as having been pur-
loined. De Leon resisted this, alleging that it had been
given him by Cortes before the gold was run into bars.
Mexia replied that Cortes had concealed enough, and had
already taken too much from the soldiers, without giving him
so great a quantity, and insisted on restitution. JBoth were
valiant men, and their quarrel rose to such a height, that
they drew their swords, and each of them received two wounds
before they could be parted. Cortes ordered them both un-
der arrest and to be put in chains } but spoke privately to De
Leon, who was his intimate friend, to submit quietly, and
released Mexia in consideration of his holding the office of
treasurer. Velasquez was a strong active man, and used to
■vioik much in the apartment where he was confined, and as
Montezuma heard the rattling of his chains, he inquired who
il^was, and interceded with Cortes jtbr his liberation. C' ;rtes
told him that Velasquez was a mad fellow, who would ^o a-
bout robbing the Mexicans of their gold if not confincfl.
Montezuma relied, if that were all, he would supply his
wants, and Cortes aifFected to release him as a favour to the
king, but banished him to Cholula, whence he .turned in
six days, richer than before by the king's bounty.
About this time, the king offered to give Cortes one of the
princesses his daughter in marriage. Cortes ^received this
offer with much gratitude, but suggested the f propriety of
having her in thewrst place instructed in the Christian reli-
gion, with which Montezuma complied, though he still con-
tinued attached to his own false worship and brutal human
sacrifices. Cortes and his captains were much scandalized by
this persistence of Montezuma in idolatry, and thought It their
duty as Christians, to run even the risk of occasioning a re-
bellion of the Mexicans by destroying the idols and pTunthig
the
I
I '4
I <
I!
m-
If
Conquest of Mexico pabt ii. ^Ook ii.
Ihe tnie dran in their place ( or if that could not be now ao-
compliihed, to make a chapel for Christian wonhm in the
temple. On this determination, seven officei's and soldiers
attended Cortes and Father Olmedo to wait upon Montezu-
ma, to whom they communicated their wish, and their reso-
lution to employ force if necessary. The king was much
alaiJied, and earnestly begged leave tc consult with his priests
on the subject Cortes seemed touched with his situ^ion, and
made a signal to the ofiSicers and soldiers to retire, leaving him
and Olmeoio with the king. He then told him, that he would
endeavour to prevail on the officers to be satisfied for the pre-
sent, if a part of the great temple was appropriated for the
reception of an altar and crucifix, by which hismigesty would
soon be convinced of the falsehood of his erroneous worship'".
To this proposal Montezuma reluctantly consented, with the
appearance of much agitation and deep sorrow ; and, an al-
tar and crucifix being erected, masr was solemnly celebrated
in the new chapel, for the care of which a proper person was
appointed.
The whole time of our btay in this city was one continued
•eries of alarms, sufiicient to have destroyed us if we had not
tieen supported by divine . tterposition. By this last measure,
through the representations of the priests, acting on the pre-
judices of the people, our dangers were much increased. Their
gods, as the priests alleged, threatened to desert them, unless
we were destroyed for this violation of the temple, aiid an
universal determination was formed to obey this manifestation
of their commands. Thi? resolution of the people was cort^eycf
to Montezuma by the priests, and all his principal warricia ;
who, besides this subject of complaint on the score of relJgion,
iilado many other representations respecting our misconduct,
ever since our arrival in the empire. The page Orguctilla
communicated many alarming circumstances which he had
observed, to Cortes, respecting frequent secret conferences
between Montezuma and his priests and nobles, and the
angry and melancholy appearances which he had frequently
seen
10 We are duly sensible of the divine super-excellence of Chri$tianityi and
the gross barbarism of idolatry joined with abominable human sacririces.
Yet, the mere change of two crossed sticks and the images of Saint Somebo-
dy or Saint Nobody, for the idols of the Mexicans, under pretence of intro-
ducing the pure religion of the meek and holy Jesus, tttftn in our humble
opinion a mere qui fro quo ; and, when taken in conjunLUoa - ith the pro-
posed conversion by military execution, and the introduction oiT the bloody
tribunal of the Inqui«itiot)} not one iot» lets idolatrous or less barbarous. — E-
CHAP. Y. SECT. VIII. bf Hemando Cortes'.
75>
>rson was
seen the king assume on these occasions. Cortes was a1arm<^
ed by this intelligence, and immediately waited on the king
accompanied by nis interpreters and nve of his captains.
Montezuma seemed much distressed during this conference^
and declared to Cortes that he was extvemelv grieyed at the
manifestation of the will of his gods that we should all be put
to death or expelled from Mexico : He therefore, as our
sincere friend, earnestly recommended that we should not run
the risk of incurring the indignation of his subjects, but should
save our lives by a retreat whilst that remained within our
power. Cortes and the rest were naturally much alarmed at
this ; but Cortes answered that he was principally concerned,
because in the first place, he had no vessels for returning into
his own country, and in the next place he would be under the
necessity of taking Montezuma along with him, that he might
present him to our emperor. He therefore entreated Monte-
zuma to use every influence to restrain his priests and war-
riors from proceeding to violence, until we had time to build
three shi^ for our conveyance, and offered immediately to
send our ship-builders to fell timber and construct the vessels
on the coast, requesting the king to order the assistance of
his carpenters for this purpose, that there might be no delay.
He repeated his request, that Montezuma wouI(' employ all
his iiifluence to prevent any insurrection in the city, and his
endeavours to appease his priests and gods, providiug that no
human sacrifices we.e resorted to for that purpcie. Martin
Lopez, our principal ship>builder, was immediately dispatched
to Villa Rica to commence building the three ships, which were
put on the stocks without delay. During this interval, we
repiained in Mexico full of terror of being attticked by the
whole force of a numerous and warlike people, exasperated by
tho insults we had heaped on thtir sovereign and their reli-
gious belief. Our apprehensioub were continually kept alive
by the information we received from Donna Marina, and the
page Orteguilla; who, by understanding the language, ob-
tained much information which must otherwise have escaped
our knowledflje. We kept however constant guard over Mon-
tezuma, and the strictest military discipline in our quarters,
sleeping always in our armour, and having our horses saddled
and bridled every night. Without meaning it £■£ any boast,
I may say this of myself, that my armour liecame as easy and
familiar to me as if it iiad been a soft down bed. And so
habituated am I to this, that now in niy old age, when I make
the
ii±«aKiiAfe*K>w-.:^&-^' ..^
\\
I f
76
Conquest (^Mexico part ii. book u^
the circuit of my district, I never take a bed along with me,
unless attended by stranger gentlemen, when I do so merely
to avoid the appearance oi' poverty or avarice. Yet, even
when I have one, I always sleep in my clothes; neither can I
rest throughout the night, but get up to conten^late the
stars, walking about without hat or cap, as I used to do on
guard ; yet thank God I never get cold, nor am I the worse
K>r this practice. This is to be a true soldier! My readers
must pardon this digression, which does not proceed from
vanity, but to let him know what kind of men we were, the
real conquerors of Mexico ".
:■
': Section IX.
Expedition of Naroaez to supersede Cortes in the co^nmand,
and occurrences till the Defeat of that Officer by Cortes at
Chempoalla.
The Bishop of Burgos, who was president of the council
of the Indies, bore unlimited sway in that department of the
Spanish government during the absence of the emperor in
Flanders. Owing to the representations of Velasquez against
Cortes, he sent orders to him to seize and make us all prison-
ers at every hazard, as rebellious subjects. Velasquez there-
fore fitted out a fleet of nineteen ships from the Island of
Cuba, in which he embarked an army of fourteen hundred
soldiers, eighty of whom were cavalry, eighty musketeers, and
eighty crossbow-men, with twenty pieces of cannon, and all
necessary ammunition and appointments, giving the com-
mand in chief to Pamphilo de Narvacz. Such was his ani-
mosity against Cortes and us for having thrown off our de-
pendance upon him, that he made a journey of above seventy
leagues from the Havanna on purpose to expedite the prepa-
rations. At this time, the royal audience of St Domingo and
the brethren of the order of St Jerr .imo, being satisfied of
our loyalty and great exertions in the service of God and the
emperor
1 1 Bernal Diaz neglects to accommodate his readers with the Tery.iueful
appendage of dates ; it therefore may be proper to remark that the Spa-
inards entered the city of Mexico for the first time on the 8th November
I5I9; and as Cortes left it in the beginning bf May 1520, in his march
against Narvaez, he had now spent about six months in the capital of a
mighty empire, with hardly 450 soldiers. --•£.
\i. '
6HAF. V. SECT. IX. hy HematiAo Cortes.
ti
peror m
emperor, sent over the oydor Lucas Vosquez de Aillon to
Cuba, with positive injunctic«is to stc^ tho sailing of the arma-
ment fu;ainst us ; but as Velasquez was confident in the tup-
port of the bishop of Burgos, he gave no heed to the orders
communicated to him by Aillon, who therefore went along
with the armament, that ho might endeavour as much as
possible to prevent injury to the public service by his mediap>
tion and influence, and be at hand if necessary, to take pos-
session of the country for the emperor, in virtue of his
office.
Narvaez arrived safe with his whole fleet in the harbour of St
Juan de Ulun, except that he lost one small vessel during
tlie voyage. Soon after his arrival, the soldiers who had
been sent by Cortes to that pait of the country in search of
mines, went on board, and it is siiid gave thanks to God
for being delivered from the command of Cortes and the
dangers of the city of Mexico. Finding thetn in this moody
Narvaez ordered them to be plentifully supplied with wine,
to make them moi'e communicative. Cervantes the jester,
who was one of these soldiers, under pretence of facetiousnt>ss»
exposed to him all the discontents of our soldiers respecting
the distribution of the treasure we had obtained, and inform-
ed him also of the bad state of the garrison in Villa Rica
under Sandoval. The arrival of this new armament was
soon communicated to Montezuma, who concealed the in-
telligence for some time from Cortes, and opened a privtite
correspondence with Narvaez, to whom he sent many rich
presents. Narvaez, in his correspondence with Montezuma,
said every thing that was bad against Cortes and his troops,
representing the whole of us as outcasts and robbers, and
that the emperor, hearing of our evil conduct, and that we
detained the great Montezuma in custody, had sent the pre-
sent expedition for the express purpose of liberating him and
putting us «U to death. This intelligence gave great satisfac-
tion to Montezuma, who thoighl we must necessarily be all
destroyed, as he had got an exact account of their force re-
presented to him in paintings : He accordingly transmitted
very magnificent presents to Narvaez, and could ill conceal
the satisfaction he had derived from the intelligence. Mon-
tezuma concealed the news of this armament from Cortes,
who observci.1 and was astonished at the alteration which it had
produced on the kings manners and l)ehaviour. At length
however, from the circumstauce of Cortes making hi«n two
visits
-ifc
Conquest of Mexico paiit i\. jiook ii.
visits in otio day, Montezuma became apprehensive of ;he
general procuring intelligence from any other quarter, and
told him the news, pretending only to have just heard oX it
himself. Cortes expressed the utmost joy at the intelligence,
and Montezuma shewed him the representations which had
been transmitted to him, by which he learnt cverv thing he
wished to know on the subject. He immediately left the king
and communicated the intelligence to the troops, who got im-
mediately under arms, and fired several voUies in token of our
joy. We soon noticed, however, that Cortes was exceeding-
ly pensive when alone, of which we coukl not divine the
cause ; till he soon afterwards convinced us, and explained
that the armament was evidently designed against uS} and
he now, partly by promises and partly by gifts, as from hia
bounty of what was ours by good right, made interest with
ua to stand firmly by him in the approaching contest with
Narvaez.
From what had been told him by Cervantes and our other
deserters, Narvaez was induced to send a deputation to San-
doval, demanding him to surrender the port of Villa Rica.
He appointed three persons on this errand, Guavera a
clergyman of abilities, Amarga, a relation of Velasquez, and
one Vergara, a scrivener. Sandoval had received information
of the arrival of the armament, and prepared to defend his
post, as he rightly guessed that it was destined to act against
us. He sent off all his invalids to an Indian village at tome
distance, and exhorting his soldiera to stand by him, he
erected a gibbet, and placed a guard on the raad to Chera-
poalla. On the arrival ot' the deputation from Narvaea at
Villa Rica, tliey were astonished to meet none but Indians, as
Sandoval had ordered all the soldiers to remain in their
quarters, and remained at home himself; they knew not well
now to proceed, but at length guessing by the appearance
of the house that it belonged to the governor, diey went in.
Guavera immediately began the conversation, by representing
the greatness of the force under Narvaez, and its object, which
was to arrest Cortes and all his folbwers as traitors, and con-
cluded by summoning Sandoval to surrender himself and his
post to general Narvaes. Sandoval was much displeased,
and told him, if it were not for the protection of his holy
function, he would punish his insolence in calling those trai-
tors whG were more faithful subjects than either Narvaez or
his employer Velasquez. He desired him to carry his de-
mand
.-ti**..
r'^*--
CHAP. V. »KCT. IX. bif Hernando Cortes*
T9
mand to Cortes at Mexico, who would settle the businesa
witit him at that place. Ouavera insisted to execute the com-
;¥vission on which he was sent, and ordered the scrivener
Vergara to produce the authority under which ^they acted.
But Sandoval stopped him, saying, ** 1 know not whether
ymtr papers be true or false ; but if yon attempt to read any
heve I vdll order you to receive a hundred lashes." On
this, Guever a exclaimed, *' Why do you mind these traitors f
read your commission." Sandoval, calling him a lying rascal,
ordered them all to be seized : On which a number of In*
dians, who had been previously instructed, came in and threw
nets over them, and instantly set out with them on their
backs for Mexico, to which they were carried post by relays
of Indians, through the several large and populous towns by
the way, with a rapidity that confounded them, hardly knowing
whether they were afiv/^ or dead, the whole seeming as if
done by enchantment. Sandoval sent Pedro de Solis to ac-
company them, by whom he wrote a hastv letter to Cortes,
giving him an account of all he knew. When the gener^
got notice of their arrival in Mexico, he ordered us all under
arms, released them immediately from their trammels, and
made an apology for the rudeness of Sandoval, whom he
greatly blamed. He entertained them with great hospitality
and respect, giving them plenty of gold, and sent them back
in a few days ns gentle ns lambs, who had come out against
him n» furious as lions.
Our gtiici/d was one whose resources were never exhaust-
ed, and it muiit not be concealed that his officers and soldiers
^^upported him through all his difficulties by our valour in the
held and our wisdom in council. On this occasion, wc de-
termined that it was proper to send letters to Narvaez and
others oi the new army, which they might receive previous to
the return of Guavera. In these, we earnestly urged that no
rash steps might be taken to endanger our general interest,
by inciting the Indians to rise upon us ; and held out every
inducement of interest and friendship to the followers of Nar-
vaez tQ bring them over to our party, not forgetting to treat
secretly with such as we thought might be easiest wrought
upon, as both Ouavera and Vergara had informed Cortei
that Narvaez was by no means on good terms with his offi-
cers, among wlumi gold well applied would work wonders.
In his letters to Narvaez, Cortes adjured him by their former
friendship, not . to give encouragement to the Mexicans to
rise
i}^.J>Afcjj,«» — li
so
Conquest of Mexico vart ti. book if.
I,
[' I 'I
rise and destroy un, seeing that they were ready to hsi-vn'n^
conxse to any extremity to liberate Montezuma, ^y'LoM dis-
positions were much altered for the worse since the arrival of
this new armament, and the opening a corre^xMidence bo
tween him and Narvaez. He was convinced, he said, that
the expressions which Narvaez had been reported to use,
could never have come from so wise a man, but must have
been fabricated by such wretches as the buffoon Cervantes ;
and he concluded by offering an unlimited submission to the
authority of Narvaez. Cortes wrote also to the secretary
Andres de Duero, and Lucas Vasques the oydor, taking euro
to accompany his letters with valuable presents of gold. On
receiving the letter from Cortes, Narvaez turiD d it into ridi«
cule» handing it about among his officers, Hpeuking of us all
as traitors whom he would put to death without mercy. He
declared he would cut off and eat the cars of Cortes, and a
great deal of such braggart nonsense, and of course made no
answer to the letters. Just at this time Father Olmedo ar-
rived, bringing with i him the private letters and presents.
He went in the fii'st place to wait upon Narvaez, intending
to assure him that Cortes would be proud to serve under his
command , hux Narvaez would not listen to him, and did
nothin,v Ikk 'buse both Cortes and him. He accordingly
desiiitc3 ri>in 'hat part of his commission which related to an
i^eeuicViL v^kh Narvaez, and applied himself to the distribu-
tion of prost^nts among the officers with so much judgment
and success, that he soon won over all the principal officers to
our party. If the oydor Vasques was originally disposed to
favour Cortes, he was entirely so on seeing the magnificent
presents which were now distributed with so much liberality ;
which formed a striking contrast with the avarice of Narvaez,
who used to enjoin his major domo to take heed that not a
mantle were missing, as he had marked down every article
committed to his charge. This penuriousness set all his
officers against him, which he attributed xt the intrigues of
Vasques ; and as there was a difference between them, be-
cause Narvaez neglected to inform him respecting every tiling
sent in by order of Montezuma, of which he ought to have
been informed as oydor, an irreconcileable quarrel ensued ;
and depending on the favour of the bishop of^ Burgos, Nar-
vaez caused the oyder to be arrested, and sent prisoner to
Cuba or Spain, I know not which. But during the voyage,
Vasques prevailed on the captain of the ship to land him in
Hispaniola,
I f!
j i,'
<««ii|>«»*M»«4i.
-,-./^aiM»Maiiii'Mwtii'i"tteTi,.ii.,.
CHAF. V. flKCT. w. It/ Hemando Cortes.
II
Hispaniola, where he so represented the treatment he had
received to the Audience and the Jeronimites, that they com-
plained to the council of Castile, but ineflFectually, owing to
the influence of the bishop of Burgos in favour of Narvaei.
About this time too, a gentleman named Oblanco, made re- | ^
monatrances to Narvaez respecting his violence, saying a
food deol in favour of Girtes and his troops, with which
_ Narvaez was so much offended that he threw ' nto prison}
which Oblanco took so much to heart t? -ied three
days after.
Soon after the arrival of Father Olniedo, id his
two companions returned from Mexico, anu out in
praise of Cortes, reporting the many expressions oi respect
he had used in speaking ot Narvaez ; and, commending the
services he had already performed to our emperor, they expa-
tiated on tlie advantages which would result from uniting thuir
forcos, instead of fomenting a civil war. All this put Nar-
vaez into such a rage that he refused to see them any more,
and commanded them to be silent on this hateful subject.
They carried their discourse therefore among their comrades ;
and when they saw how well furnished with gold these men
Imd returned from Mexico, they began seriously to wish
themselves in the army of Cortes.
Narvaez now quitted the coast with his arAiy ahd took
possession of the town of Chempoalla ; immediately on his
arrival seizing by force the young women who had been
given to the oilicers of Cortes by their parents, with all ihe
gold and mantles which had been left in the custody of the
fut cacique along with the ladies, when we set out on our
-ma^ ch to Mexico. When the cacique complained of this to
Narvaez, and of the robberies committed by his soldiers,
saying that Cortes and his soldiers conducted themselves in
quite a different manner, a bragging fellow called Salvatier-
' ra exclaimed, *' See wiiat fear these Indians axu in for the
sorry fellow Cortes !" yet this boaster, who was so ready with
his tongue, was the most cowardly wretch I ever beheld,
when we came afterwards to attack the army of Narvaez.
About this time, Narvaez transmitted to Cortes a copy of the
commission he had received from the governor of Cuba, the
particulai s of which I shall detail hereafter. Cortes received
regular intelligence of every thing done by Narvaez, partly
from the friencls he had made in the adverse army and partly
from Sundovuli who now informed hini that five persons of
VOL. IV, Y consideration
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83
Conquest tfll^xico jpabt ii. book ii.
i*
coDsidenition had joined firom the army of Narvaes, who al-
lied for thdr reason, that beina the relations of the oydor
Vaamiea, who had met with such injurious treatment,, they
had litile hopes of beinff themselves well used { and he added*
that these persons smd Narvaez meant very soon to march to
Mexico against us. On this being made known to such of
m as Cortes used generally to consult with, hf agreed with
us in opinion that it was aavisabte f<nr us to march immediate-
ly i^^st Narvaez and his army, leavics the command in
Mexico with Alvarado ; and we Im under nis charge all those
men who were not inclined to be of the presoit hazardous
expedition, and aU whom we suuiected to have an inclination
for the party of Narvaez or Velasquez. We also left with
Alvarado a sufficient suf^ly of provisions* in case the Mexi-
cans should refiise to supply him, and because the late har-
vest had been deficient, in consequence of too dry a season.
Our quarters were strragthened by the addition of a good
pallisflide, and* besides four heavy gUns, we left a garrison of
eighly-thisee inen, twenty-four of whom were armed with
muskets or cross-bows:, a very inadequate force, surely, for
kerning the ^eat and pt^ulous city ot Mexico in awe.
, Previous to our departure, Cortes paid a visit to Montezu-
ma, who questioned him very anxiously about the difference
between him and Narvaez, as both were vassals of the same
sovereign, and deured an explanation of the charges which
the new comers had made against us, that we were outcasts
and traitors. He likewise asked if he could serve us in any
vmy, expressing an apprehension of our safety, considering the
rit superiority under Narvaez. Cortes r«>lied in a cheer^
manner, that he had not sooner informed him of our in-
tended departure, lest it might give him concern { that we cer-
tainly were all subjects to the same monarch, but thatthereport
of our beir^ traitors and fugitives was utterly fidse,- as we had
come intd his country with full authori^ from our sovereign*
As to the other party destroying us by their siqieriority in
numbers, that did not depend on Uiem, but on the will of our
Lord and his holy mother, who would simport us. He added*
that our sovereign ruled over many difierent countries, the
inhabitants of some of which were more valiant than those of
others ; that we were all true Castilians, while the comman-
der of our opponents was a Biscayan, and his m«esty would
soon see the difference between us, as he trusted by the bles-
sing of God to bring them all back as prisoners. He con-
cluded
cHAV. V. SECT. IX. by flernariSo Cttries,
SS
eluded by reoommending io the strongest terms to Monteni-
ma, to use his utmost endeavours to prevent any insnrrectictti
fai the dty during our absence ; as, on his return, he would
assuredly punish all in a most exemplary manner who be^ '
haved amisp. Montezuma prmnised to do every thing whidi
Cortes required, and even offered to assist us with five thou-
sand of his warriors, which Cortes politd^ declined, knowing
indeed that the king had not that in his power, if he even
wished t6 have done so. Then requesting Montezuma to
cause due respect to be paid to that part of the great temple
which had been consecrated to the Christian worship, he em-
braced Montezuma with much cordiality and took leave.
He then caHed Alvarado and the garrison which was to re-
main in Mexico, all of whom he strictly enjoined to be ex-
tremely watchful, and to take special care not to allow Mon-
tezuma to escape ; promising to make them all rich on his
return, if he found they had done their duty. On this oc-
casion of leaving Mexico, he left the clergyman Juan Diaz
with Alvarado, and some other persons whose fidelity he
questioned.
We began our march from Mexico in the b^innins <^
May 1520 ', making our first halt at Cholula. From mat
place we sent a message to the senate of Tlascala, requiring
them to assist us with four thousand of their warriors. They
sent us twenty loads of fowls, saying that they were ready at
any time to j<Hn us in war against Indians, but begged to be
excused if we were marching against our own countrymos.
At this time likewise, Cortes sent orders to Sandoval to join
our little army with the whole of his garrison that was fit for
duty, at a place named Tampinequeta or Mitalaquita %
twelve leagues from Chempoalla. We marched in regular
order without baggage, having always two confidential sol-
ders in advance fH)out a days journey, who were directed
not to keep the main road, but to go always by those in
whidi calvary could not march, and whose especial business
was
^ 1 The date it nippUed in the text from attentive consideration of dates
nientioned by Diaa in the sequel, and In this date Clayigero, II. 07, agrees.
Dial gives no account of the strength of Cortes on the present occasion, but
afterwards mentions 20^; sddiers, with five horsemen and two gupners, in-
dependent of 70 more who joined under Sandoval from the garrison of
Vala RicS. This would make the whole force 283 soldiers, against 1 400 who
were under the command of Narvaez.—£.
S No such place is to be found in the map of Clavigero, nor in that re-
cently published by Humbolt.— £.
-,«»»*-«#^<ff^
M
Conquer itfMixico part ii. book ii.
t
was to OMjMire for iQtelUg6nc« respeeting the motions :of Nar-
vaes, whi^ tliey were to communicate j without delay to
(J!of:fe^ , Wl^en we had proceeded a considerable way on our
raari^t one of (pjir advanced j^vties .> fell in with four Spap
niayds belonging to the army oi Narvaez, who were bringing
to C<Mrtes a copy of his commission and instructions as cap>
tain-general in New Spain. On bdna brought to the <gene>
ral* they saluted him re^)ectiully, and he immediately dis-
mounted in order to hear what they had to say. Aionzo de
Mate* who was at the head of the dooutation, produced his
papers and began to read them ; but Cortes stopt him short,
demantUiic if he were a royal notary; asi in that case, by
shewing his commission, he would beimplicitW obeyed, but if
tie had no such authority, he certainly would not be allowed
u> read any pretended orders. ** The commands of his m»>
jesty," said Cortes, ** I shall subinit to with the utmost humi-
litvi but, I desire that the original may be produced."
MaXxk was confounded at these words, as beheld no office
whatever under the crown, and was entirely at a loss how to
proceed. But Cortes relieved him from his embarrassment,
telling him our destination, and that he was ready to receive
any mesusage from his general, of whom he always spoke with
great respect, but would listen to no orders that were not
sanQtibqed by the royal authority. We halted for some
time at this place, and Cortes had someprivateconfer^nceswith
thcfte agents of Narvaez, with whom he used such powerful
arguments that he made them his firm friends. They, return-
ed to jChempoalla, quite loud in their praises of Cortes, crying
up his ff^nerosity to the skies, and made a magnificent re^
pojrt of the riches of our soldiers, many of whom had orna-
ments of gold on their arms, and some of them gold chains
and collars about their necks.
Next day, Sandoval joined with the garrison of Villa Rica, to
the number of about seventy men, with- whom came the five
l^paniards who had deserted from Narvae?, who were verygra^
cipusly received by Cortes. Sandoval rq)orted that he nad
sent two of his soldiers, a little time before into the quarters
of Narvaez, who went diuinised like Indians, having each a
load of fruit for sale, and their complexions so compwteKr re^
sembled the natives that they were never suspected. They
went immediately to the quarters of the braggart Salvatierra,
who gave them a string of yellow beads for thehr fruit, and
«ent uem to cut graas for lus horse on the bonks of a small
rivulet.
citAP. ▼. 8BCT. IX. by Hernando Cortes.
99
rivulet. They brought home the hut load of mm in the
eineniiurf and having fed the hone, they remained about the
phfce wl ni^t, listening to the conVe.'^tion of Salvatierra,
whom they heard olMcrvmg to some of his companions,, how
luckily diey had come at the present moment to deprive the
traitor Cortes of the 700,-000 crowns which he had obtainie^
from Montezuma. When it was dark, our disguised sdldier^ .
got privately out of the house, and took away Salvatierras.
horse with the saddle and bridle, and meeting another hors^
by the way, which happened to be lame, they brought it aloiig
with them^ Cones laughed heartily at this exploit i and we'
learned afterwards that Salvatierra gave much amusement ta
the soldiers of Narvaez, by his absurd behaviour on dis-
covering the trick which had been played upon him.
It was now resolved in a general consultation of our little
army, to send a letter in all our names to Narvaez, by the
handa of Father Olmedo, of which the following is the pur-
port: ** We had rfejoiced on hearing of the arrival of so
noble a person with so fine an army, by which we'expected
great advantages to have been derived to our holy religion'
and to the service df our sovereign ; but on the contrary he'
had reviled us as traitors, and had occasioned the whole
country to revolt. Our general had already o£^ed to resign
to him whatever provinces or territories he mi^ht be inclined to'
occupy, but nothing would serve him except treating our
gencfo! ~' d us as rebels, who had proved ourselves by our
actidns >.ful subgecis to the emperor. If he came by the
authon.; ,* a commission from his mnesty, we demanded
to see the original within three days, fur which purpose we
had advanced to this place, and were ready to obey it in all
humility and reverence : but, if he had no such authority, we
required him to return immediately to Cuba, and not to
make any attempt to throw the country which we had con-
quered into confusion j as otherwise we should deem it Our
Dounden duty to send him as a prisoner to his majesty, to be
dealt with according to his royal pleasure. We dechred
that he was answerable for all the lamentable conse(Uicnces
which might follow from his unlawful conduct; and tnat we
had sent this letter by its present conveyance, since no royal
notary couki underteJce to deliver our ronon^rance in dfue
form, after the violence which he had committed a^nst his
majesties oydor Vasquez; a treasonable act, the perpetritor
of which our general was bound to apprehenil and bring to
justicp^
\i
ui
t
v,
'!
i !
^«
Conquett of Mexico vhvt ii. book ii«
justice, and for which
answer for hit conduct."
we now cited him to tppear and
This letter was condudcd in terms
of great reMsect^ and was signed b^ Cortes, all the captains,
iuM sever4 of the most confidoitial of the soldiers. It was
sent by the reverend Father Olmedo, accompanied by a sot
dier naqned Ulagre» whose brother was in the army of Nar-
iraez as commander of his artillery. Olmedo waited on Nar-
▼aei with great respect on his arrival at Chempoalla } fuid
proceeded afterwardi to execute the secret commission with
which he had been entrusted, by a liberal distribution of gold
liknongcertain officers of the army of Narvaez, among whom
wiere Kodrigo Mira, Ula^, and Andres de Duero, which
last he invited to pav a visit to Cortes. Narvaez soon began
to suspect the real object of Olmedo, and was much inclined
to have made him a prisoner: but Duero, who had much in-
fluence over Narvaez, both on account of his situation and
because they were in some degree related, represented the
impn^iety of such an outrage against a person of his holy
functions, and dissuaded him from doing so. He also su|;r
gested to him the gceat probability of his being able to gam
over the spldiers of Cortes to his party, by means of a uttle
policy. By these arguments he appeased Narvaez for the
present, and went immediately, to Olmedo whom he informed
pf all that had passed.
Shortly afterwards, Narvaez sent for Olmedo, who request-
ed to speak witli him in private ; when he told him good-
humouredly that he knew his intentions of making him a
prisoner, m which he was much to blame, as there was no
one whatever more devoted to his service, and he knew that
there were many persons with Cortes, who would gladly see
their conimander delivered up to his excellenoy i in proof of
which he had a letter which Cortes had written at the sug-
gestion of tliese very persons who wished to deliver him up i
which letter was so full pf ridiculous absurdities that he was
firequently tempted to throw it away, but would now w^th his
permission lay it before him. He accordingly went, as he
pretended for the letter, which he alleged was with his bag-
eRge, but in reality to bring Duero and others along wiui
im, that tHey might witness its delivery. In order to con-
trive an interview with Cortes, Duero proposed that a com-
munication should be opened between Narvaez and him ; and
Au^stin Bermudez, a secret friend of Cortes, prq)osed.that
Duero and Salyatierra should be sent on this business, wdl
knowing
OHAP. V. SECT. IX. bsf Hernando Corte$,
91
knowing the character of Salvatierra to bt disincluied to anir
such employment. ^ It wai at last settled that Duero should wait
upon C!ortes» and invite him to a conference with Narvaez at a
convenient place between the two armies, where they mi^t
treat of an accommodation and arrange their future measures :
And it was resolved that Narvaes should make him prisoner
at the con£erence» for which twenty of his roost confidential
soldiers were prepared. Duero carried intelligence imme-
diately to Cortes, and Father Ohnedo remained at the quaiw
ters of Narvaez, having scraped acquaintance with Salvatiem
ra, under pretence of relationship, with whom he dined eveiy
day.
On first learning the arrival of Narvaez, Cortes sent one of
his soldiers named Barrientos, who had served in Italy and
was well acquainted with the management of the pike, to the
EroVince of the Chinantlani, who had lately entered into aU
ance with us. That nation used lances or pikes much longer
than ours, having heads of sharpened stone, and Barrientoa
was directed to wtain SOO of these lances for our use. There
was plenty of excellent copper iu the country of the Chinan^
laas, and Barrientos was directed to get two heads of this m^,
tal for each lance, and these were executed so ingeniously
that they were better made even than the pattern sent. Ho
also obtained a promise of 2000 warriors of that nation to
join us, who were to be armed in the same manner, but they
did not arrive till after we had overcome Narvaez. All this
beiug settled, Barrientos arrived at om* quarters attended by
200 Chinantlans carrying the lances he had procured. On
trial these were founa excellent, and we were immediately
exercised in their use. A muster was. now made of our force*
which amounted to two hundred and six men, including fife
and drum, with five mounted cavalry, two artillery-men, few
cross-bows, and fewer musketeers. This being the force,
and such the weapons, with which we marched against and
defeated the vastly superior army of Narvaez.
I have formerly mentioned that tib,c secretary Duero and
the contador Lares had n^^iated the i^pointmeut of Cortea,
as general of our expedition, and that tney were to enjoy
equal shares with him in all the treasure he should acquire.
Lares was some time dead, and Duero seeing how wealthy
Cortes had become,, used the colour of the proposed treaty
between Narvaez and Cortes, in order to have an opportunity
ofaninto^iew with Cor^tes, that he might remind him of
their
li
OtitgiieH ^ Mtxieo vakt it. book ii*
tbeir aifMBMBt* Coitet not only promiied faiAftaUy top«r-
feiriM nift eiiMgaiienti but promUea him an equ«l command
with himitl^ and an equal ihani of territory when the oon-
quait of the <knintry was completed. It wai accordingly
M[reedup<^i between them, in concurrence with Auguran
Knrmudeit who was alguasil-major of the army of Narvaei,
and many other officers whom 1 do not name, tooet Nanraea
put out of the command in fitvour of Cortct. In order to
confirm theie in his intereel, and to gain over others, Cortes
was more liberal than ever in his presents, and on the pre-
sent occasion loaded the two Indians who attended on Duero
with flotd. On one of the days of intercourse, after Cortes
and Duero had been a considerable time together in private,
and hud dined, Duero asked hin on mounting his horse to go
away^ if he had any iiirther commands. To this Cortes re-
plied, ** Remember what hiis b^en settled between us, or^ if
you don't, I shall be in your quarters before three days, and
yon shall be the first person at whom I will throw my lancie.**
IXiero answered laugning, that he would not fail, and imme-
diately set off for the (t[uarters of Narraet, where he is report-
ed to hove said that Cortes and all his men were ready to
submit to the command of Nanraei. Soon after this, Cortes
aent for Juan Vdasques de Leon, a person of mudi conside-
ration, who had always been ^;reat1y attadied to him, though
a near rehtion of the governor of Cuba. On coming to his
quarters, Cortes addressed him in smooth and persuasive
terms, which he could always assume at pleasure :•—** Duero
has informed me that Narvoez is anxious to see you at his
quarters, and that it is generally believed I om completely
ruined 4f you go there. Now my worthy friend, I desire yon
to put on your gold chain, mount your ^rey more, take all
your gold along with yon and more which I will give you ;
£» immediately and fix yourself widi Nnrvaez, and distribute
e gold idiich I confide to you according to my directions."
Velosques was perfiectly willing to do as he was desired, but
ol^ected to the measure of carrying his own treosnre along
with him, and after a secret con^ence with Cortes he set
out for Chempoalla. De Leon arrived there by day-break,
and OB the Indians were rejoiced to see him, the news eoon
reached Narvaes, who came out to meet and embrace him.
After paying his compliments, Velasquez said hfs only object
there was to endeavour to make an amicable arrangement
between Naryaez and Cortes ; upon which Narvaez took him
aside
cMAV. T. tier. IX. Ifjf Hernando Ontes,
8f
a«de «nd Mk«1 hkh bow he could propoie to trejit for Midi '
a tndtor ? . Vdawjucz detind that no rach injnrfom epithet .
might be uwd in nit ntvsence, as Cortet wat a mott aealoiia >
and faithful ofiker. Narvaez then offered to, malce him w9>^'^
cond in command under himielf if he would reiiooiMe Cortet fi
but Vdaiques deckred he would never quit one who-had'^'
done luch signal seryioes for God and the emperor. ^
By diiii time all the principal officers in the army of Nar- -
vara bad come up to sakite Velasquez, who was an univerMl
favourite, as he was very polite and well bred, and' had a fine^
person and handsome countenance. At this time he cut a'
Ane martial figure, as he had a masvy'gold chain which made
two turns round his body and over his shouldera, so that he '■
impressed every one with respect. Bermudez the a^a-
zil-major and Duero wished much to have had some private
communication with Velasquez j but just at this time Captain
Oamnrra, Juan Yuste, Juan Buono, and Salvatierra the brag-
ffadodo, persuaded Narvaez to sive private orders for takfaig
Velasquez into custody, for havma nx>ken so boldly in de-
fence of G>rtes ; but the others who had come over to the in-
terest of Cortes, sti*ongIy represented the impropriety ahd
impolicy of such rash conduct, and Narvaez again spoke in a
friendly manner to Velasquez, whom he invitetl to dine
with him, and entreated his assistance to bring Cortes and
the rest of us into his power. Velasquez now agreed to for-
ward this design, but represented Cortes as headstrong and
resohite, advismg that Narvaez and he should divide the coun-
try between them, each taking separate provinces^ At ^i«
time Oimedo came up, and advised Nervate to order his
troops under ai ms, that Velasquez might see them and report
to Clortes, who would be terrified when he knew th«r
strength. The troops were accordingly turned out in review
order, and Velasquez complimented Narvaez on their num-
ber and martial appearencc, wishins him an increase of his
power. Narvaez said he hopv d VeTasqnez was now satisfied
bow easily he could crush Cortes and his deHpicable furcei
to which Velasquez replied, he hoped they knew how to de-
fend themselves.
Velasquez dined next day with Narvaez, where a captain
in his army who was nephew to the ^vemor of Cuba h^
pened to bej; who used very insulting language reelecting
Cortes. On this Velasquez requested of Narvaez, tfuit su<£
insulting language tnight not be allowed in his hearing ) Init
the
• M
I
90
Conquest fff Huieo vakt ii. book ja.
the odur gendenum continued hie abme, and e?eii look
greet liber^ with VehM^ues hinuelf i who, laying his hand
on hie sword> aaked permission from Narvaez to chastise that
base liar, llie other officers who were present interfered to
prevent mischief and advised both Velasquez and Olmedo to
retire. Velasquez accordingly mounted his excellent grey
mare, in his helmet arid coat of mail, with his odd chiun
about his shoulders, and todk leave of Narvaez, who return-
ed his salute with apparent coldness. The young obtain
was again very vident in his abuse; on which Velasquez
swore by his beard, that he should see in few days what
stuff he was made of. Then, taking a } j leave of the by-
standers, he put spurs to his good grey mare and was soon
out of sight, as he had some hint or su^icion that Narvaez
might send after him, and even saw some horsemen follow-
ing him ai^iarently for that purpose, but he was too well
mounted tor their pursuit.
Jn about two hours after Velasquez had left our camp to
vint Narvaez, the drum beat to arms, and our little army set
forwards on our march for Chempoalla. We killed two wild
hogs (» our way, which our soldiers considered as a good
omen of our ultimate success. We halted for the night on
the uie of a rivulet, having the ground for a bed, stones for.
our pillows, and heaven for our canopy, and arrived next
daj^ at the place where the city of Vera Cruz is now built,
wmch was tnen an Indian village in a orove of trees. Being
mid-day and the weather extremely smtry, we stopped here
for rest and r^eshtaent, beine much fetigued by the weight
of our lances and armour. While here, a report was brous ht
from one of our out-posts that some horsemen Were in ta^t,
who turned out to be Velasquez and Olmedo, who were re-
ceived by Cortes and all of us with much joy, and we all camo
round them to hear the news. Velasquez told Cortea in what
manner he had executed his ccMnmission and distributed the
mesents among the officers of Narvaez. Then our merry
Father Olmedo gave an account by what finesse he had per-
suaded Narvaez to read our letter j how he had made the
foolish braggart Salvatierra believe they were cousins, and of
the ridiculous bravadoes he uttered, as how he would kill
CcHTtes and all of us in revenge for the loss t^his horse ; then
how he had prevailed on Narvaez to turn out his troops in
renefrmffive^y to laugh at him ; and in all these stories he
nuBoi^ed Narvaez and Salvatierra most admirably, so ,that
' ' we
CBAV. ▼. tact. IX. ^ Hernando Cortes,
9h
we ]Aii(riMd «iid ogoved oundret m if going to a wedding*
frait, woogfa we well knew, that on the morrow we must con*
4]tter or die, hftving to attack five timet our number. Sudi
i» the fortune of war ! After the heat of the day was overt
we proceeded on our march) and halted for the night at a n-
ver about a league from Chempoalla, where there is now •'
bridffe and a dairy farm.
Aner the departure of Father Olmedo and Vdasc^uez finom
the quarters of Narvaez, some of his officers gave lum warn-
ing of the secret practices going on, and adviiied him to be oa
his guard, as Cortes had many friends in his army. The &t
cadque of Chempoalla, being terrified for being called to ac-
count by Cortes ror ddivering up the women and mantles
that had been confided to his care, was extremely vigilant in
watching all our motions. Finding that we drew near Chem-
poalla, he said to Narvac2, ** Why are you so careless 1 jlfa-
linatzin and his teules will come upon you by surprise and put
you dl to death." Narvaez, being confident in his vast so-
peritmty, laughed heartily at the tears of the fat caoiaue, yet
did not neglect the warning. In the first place^ he oeclared
war agdnst us as rebels, with fire, sword, and rope, and then
drew up his whole army, cavalry, artillery, and infki^tiy, in a
pldn about a quarter of a league from Chempoalla, where he
resolved to wait for us } all of which we learned from a soldier
named £1 GaUeguiJlo, who dther deserted to us^ or was sent
by Duero to Cortes. The day happened to be very rainy,
and the troops of Narvaez, bemjg unaccustomed to hwrdships,
and dettHsing our small number, became restless and dissatis-
fied with their situation, on which his officers advised him to
march diem back to quarters, which he did, pladng dl his
^ns in a line before the house in which he lodged. He
likewise placed a grand guard of forty cavdry on the road by
which we were expected to advance, and some cavalry videts
and active foot soldiers at the ford whore we must pass on our
way to Chempoalla. Twenty of his cavalry were dso ap-
pointed to patrole during the whole niaht around his qufuters.
All this was done by the advice of bis officers, who were
anxious tp get under cover, and who dleged it was absurd
to suppose that Cortes would venture to attack th^ wkh so
pittfuLa handful of men, and that he only advanced from os-
toitatimi, or to induce them to come to an-^igreement. On
returning to quarters, Narvaez publickly offered a reward of,
pffp thousand crowns to whoever should kill Cortes or San-
doval ;
S'
M Conquett ofMtmeo TAKt ii. book m
4o?aI I and be itfttioned as ipia at tlie ibrd» Oonsalo Car>
raiiOi who now dwdlt in La Poabla, and a loldier named
Hurtado. He aWo filled his own Quarters, and those of Sal-
wtierrii, Qaailuta, and Buono, with musketeers, crossbow-
tMOti ahd soMivts armed with mrticans or bnlberts.
C^ ntfMna at the riyer wh^eh runs through tho rich men-
dow| about a wague from Chempoidla, having appointed trui-
tjr g^»i|air«fei i^Mrtes summoned all his oflRcecs and soldiers
nMMitf Sln% nnd addressed us as ft>Uows : *« Gentlemen I you
#(i^lbMJw that the governor of Cuba selected mc as your
ffM«V&V ahhol^h thMe are many among you as worthy of
nW=9^inand. You also know that it was publickly pro-
daiifldd'and believed among us, that we were to conquer and
ooioiitaetllb country, whereas our instructions were only to
barter ^th the natives for ffoM. You will recollect my de-
terminatidn to hav« returnra to Cuba, to ^ve an account of
my mission to Velasquez, when I was required by you to re-
main and colonize the country for his majesties service, ap-
poinUng me yonr captain-general and chief magistrate, till
nis mi^ties pleasure was made known, and that we have in
consequence essentially served God, and the interest of our
•bvereiUn. I beg leave to remind you, that we have written
to the king, giving him a full account of this country, and oil
that we have done and Huffered for his service, requesting that
the igovernment might not be conferred on any unworthy
person, and how we transmitted all the treasure to his mnjes-
Sthat we had obtained. You likewise know, that fearing
e arts and influence of the bishop of Burgos and his fa-
vourite Velasquez, we came to a resolution to maintain his
majesties rights and government in this country, till his royal
mandate, duly authenticated, should be produced to us. I
must now remind you to what dangers you have been ex-
posed in various sanguinary battles, what hardsh^s you have
sitflereil from hunger and fatigue, and the inclemencies of
the Wi>ather, having often been obliged to sleep on the ffrmmd
in rain, wind, ana snow, during all which, above fifty of
your compauionft have died, and many of vour own wound*
ai-e still unhealed. I recal to your remembrance, your nu-
merous sufferings by sea and land, and the perils of Tabas-
co, Ttascala, and Cholula, where the boilers were already on
the fires in which your limbs were to have been prepared for .
the barbarous repast of your savage enemies. And lastly, .
your
CHAP. T. Iter. IX. bjf Hernando Cortet. M
your hazardoiM entry into Mexico, the leizure of iti power*
nil lOTercign, and its occupation in the lace of «a inuneme
end warlilce population for more than dz roonthe. Let me
now state the reward of all these dangerous and brillimt ser-
vices. Narvaei is sent here by your cncmiee the guferDur
of Cuba and bishop of Burgos, to strip you of your wdA-
oamed &me and dear-boiurfit treasures. By aspersing your
characters with the great Montezuma he has oocasionecf the
dafection of the aauves who had submitted lo our govem-
m«it, and he prioclaims exterminating war amiinst us with
fire, sword, and rope, as if we were infidel Moors." He
said a oreat deal more to the same purpose, exalting oar ne-
rits and valour to the skies, and after a profusion m compli-
ments and promises, he concluded by observii^ that this
Narvacs, who had come to deprive us of our lives and pwv
portics, and had imprisoned the royal oydor for endeavewr-
ing^ to defend us, only held bis command through theifavoor
otour great enemy the bishop of Burgos ) and.it'bccanie
us therefore, as faithful sulnects, to make a bold stand ii|p de-
fence of the royal rights, and our own lives and properties : He
therefore now wished to know our determination on the sub-
ject '
The whole officers and soldiers declared unanimously that
we were ready to fdllow him, and determined to conquer or
.die. We desired, therefore, that we might hear no none
said about on accommodation with Karvaez, or a partition
of the country { os in that case we would plunge 'Our swo^
into his body, and elect another chief. Cortes highly ex-
tolled our spiritetl declaration, saying that he expected no
less from men of our valour ; adding a multitude of fine
promises and flattering assurances that he would make us all
rich and great Then adverting to the approaiiihing attack,
he .eameaUy ei^oined us to observe the strictest disd^ine, atid
the most profound silence, observing that success hi battfe
often depended a great dc^ more on {Hiidcnt conduct and
precise obedience, than on the most determined braveiy:
He well knew, he said, tliot our ardour would prompt eveiy
one of its te'Strive who shoukl be most forward in the battle-;
but it was indispensably necessarv that we shoul^ be' distri-
buted into companies, having each our dL>tihct difjtks to per-
form. The first thing necessary to be done, was to seize the
enemies artillery, and for this duty he selected seventy sol-
diers,
ei U
it
ii
ii
M Conquest of Mexico part ii. book it.
dien« among whom I was one, over whom he appointed to
the command his relation Pizarro, an active young man, but
then as little known to fimie as the kingdom of Peru. Our
liurther orders were, as loon as we had got possession of the
guns, that wc were to join and support the detachment which
was to attack the qnartcrs of Narvaez. This duty was as-
signed to Sandoval at the hcnd of seventy select men i and,
ss he was alguazil-roajor of our army, he was provided with
• formal warrant to arrest the body of Pamphilo de Narvaes,
for having imprisoned on officer of his mmesty, and to' put
him to death in case of resistance. Cortes also promised a re-
ward of three thousand crowns to the first soldier who dhould
lay hands on Narvaez, two thousand to the second, and one
thousand to the third. Juan Velasquez de Leon was m-
pointed with a third body of seventy men, to seize his rela-
tion Dic^ Velasquez ; and Cortes retained n body of re-
serve of twenty men, to act wherever he might see occa-
tton, and in particular to support the intended attack on
the quarters of Narvaez and Salvatierra, which were in the
k>fty temple of Chempoalla K Having thus arranged the
troops and instructed our leaders, he addressed us in a short
roeech, saying. That he well knew the army of Narvaez was
lour times more numerous than we, but they were unaccus-
tomed to arms, and many of them ill ; he trusted therefore
in diis unexpected attack, that God would give us victory,
and that it was better to die gloriously than to live dishonour-
ed. I have often reflected on this circumstance, that in all
his addresses to us, he never once mentioned a word respect-
ing those in the army of Narvaez who were our friends ; in
which he acted the part of a wise commander, making us to
rely
S Tbew numben, at arranged for the attack on Narvaez, only aitiount
to iiSO men. At the occupation of Mexico the Spanish army is said to
hs.\ii been about 450, besides the garrison of Villi Rica. £ighty>three men
are stated to have been left in Mexico under the command ta Alvarado,
which would still leave 567 to march under Cortes for Chempoalla, to
wh»ch 70 being added from Villa Rica under Sandoval, would raise the «•
mount of the army now under Cortes to about 437 men, so that about
S07 are unaccounted for in the arrangement for the attack, besides
Ordas, and other eminent captains are not now mentioned in the text.
We may, therefore, reasonably conclude, that these captains and the unac«
counted (or remaining force of Cortes, were left at the ford of the river, a-
bout a league from Chempoallat at a rear guard, on which to retreat in caie
of a defeat, or may have formed a main body for the assault.— £.
10
w
fXAP. T. SECT. IX>
bji Hernando Cortes.
95
nted to
lan, but
I. Our
A of the
nt which
was a*-
m andf
ded with
Narraea,
d to put
isedare-
ho should
, and one
I was ap-
his rela-
ody of re-
see occa-
attack on
ere in the
ranged the
in a short
[arvaez was
9 unaccus-
1 therefore
us victory,
dishonour-
that in all
»rd respect-
friends; in
aking us to
rely
, only amount
^y is askXi tp
hty-three men
I of Alvarado,
liempoalla, to
nd ra»e the a-
, so that about
Attack, betides
I in the text.
and the unac-
jf the river, ap
retreat in caie
E.
rely entirely on our own prowess, without counting on any as-
sbtance. Oar three detachments were now formed, having
each their captains at their head, explaining to us our par-
ticular duties, while we mutually enoouragoi each other to
hope for victory. Pizarro, our leader, directed us to rush
forwards upon the guns, with our lances at the cfaarse, and
immediately on getting possession, the artillerv-men wno were
attached to our division, were to point and nre them against
the quarters of Narvaez. Those who happened at this mo-
ment to be deficient in defensive armour, would have given
every thing they had in the world for a mori<m, a hdmet, oe
a breast-iHate. Our countersign for the engagement was
Spiritu SantOf that of Narvaez Santa Maria. Jusc before
marching, Captain Sandoval, who had always been my inti-
mate friend, called me aside, and made me promise, if I sui^
vhred the capture of the guns, I should seek out and attach
myself to him during the rest of the battle.
All things being arranged, we remained waiting the order
to march, and reflecting with much anxiety on what was be-
fore us. 1 was stationed at an advanced post, ^here soon
afterwards a patrole came to me, asking if I had heard any
thing, to which I answered that I had not. A corporal came
up to my post soon after, who said that Galleguillo, the* de-
serter from Narvaez, was missing, and was suspected of hav-
ing come among us as a spy, for which reason Cortes had giv-
en orders to aaarch immeoiately. The drum was soon heard
beating for us to fall in, and the captains were calling ov^
their companies. We joined the column, and so<hi after found
the missing soldier sleeping under some mantles to relieve his
fatigue, as he had not been accustomed to hardships. We
marched on at a quick pace, and in profound silence, and on
arriving at the river, surprised the two videts Of Narvaez,
one of whom we made prisoner, and the other flying into
tlie town before us, spread the alarm of our approach. Ow-
ing to rain the river was deeper than usual, and the ford was
, difficult to pass, from loose stones and the weight of our ar-
mour. Carrasco the videt, whom we had taken, exclaimed
to Cortes, " Do not advance. Senior Cortes, for Narvaez
and all his force is drawn out to receive you." We pro-
ceeded, however, with all expedition, and on coming to the
town, heard the other man who had escaped giving tlie a-
larm, and Narvaez calling on his ofiicers to turn out. Our
„ ;„ • '• . company
P
P
\i\
96
Conquest of Mexico TiuiT ii.book ii.
I*
.company vras i^ the head of the column ; and nuhinfp on
with charged lauce^ we soon made ourselves masters oi' the
guns, the artillexV'^nen having only time todischairge four,
one only of which took eflect, and killed three of our men.
Our whole force now advanced, and brought down seven of
the enemies cavalry ; but we could -not for some time quit
the gunt, as the enemy kept up a smart discharge of musket*
ry and arrows from the quarters of Narvaez. Sandoval and
lus company pressed forwards to climb the steps of the
temple, in which attempt he was resisted by the enemy, with
■musketry, partisans, and lances, and was even forced down
six or seven steps. At tltis time, seeing that the artillery was
no longer in danger of being rescued, our company, with
.Captain Pizarro at their headj went to the assistance of San-
doval, when we jointly made the enemv give ground in their
turn { and at this critical moment I 11681x1 Narvaez crying
out, ** Santa Maria assist me I they have slain me, and
lieat out one of my eyes !" On hearing this we shouted out,
.** Victory I victory ! for tlie Espiriia Santo I Narvaez is
dead !" Still we were unable to force our wny into the tem-
ple, till Martin Lopez, who was very tall, set the thatch on
fire, and forced those within to rush down the st«>s to save
themselves from being burnt to death. Sanches Far^ laid
Jiold on Narvaez, whom we carried prisoner to Sandoval, a-
long with several other captive captains, continually shouting,
** Victory ! victory I Long live the king and^Cortes I Nar-
vaez is slain 1"
While this was going on with us, Cortes and the rest of
our army were engaged with some of the enemy who occu-
pied some othtr lofty temples. When the cause of our
shouts was understood, Cortes notified to them the fall of
their commander, proclaiming that all who did not instantly
submit shouki be put to death ; yet these who were in the
temple, commanded by Diego Velasquez and Salvatierra
woidd not submit, till Sandoval with half of our body, and
the coDtured guns, forced his way into the temple and
made tnem all prisoners. Sandoval now returned to take
charge of Narvaez, who was doubly ironed ; and we now,
had in custody besides him, Salvatierra, Diego Vdasquez,
Gamarra, Juan Yuste, Juan Buono, and many other princi-
pal persons. At this time Cortes came in unobservea, ex-
tremely fatigued ; and addressing Sandoval, said it was im-
. .., ,;4.w. . ,.„ possible
■■**-
cHAPi ▼. 8ICT. DC. &y Hernando CortH,
97
poMible to describe the kbonr he had experienced} thea
asked, <* What has become of Narvaez?" Sandoval told
him ^at Narvaes was here safe. : Cortes then said» ** Son
Sandoval^ keep oood watch ova him and the other officers."
After which he hastened awajr, and caused proclamation to
be made, that allshodd lav down their arms and submit.
The whole of this ha|^ned during the niaht, during which
ihete were frequent showers, with intervus of moon-shines
but at the moment of attack it was extremely dark, with mul-
titwks of fire flies, which the soldiers of Narvaez mistook for-
thelightedmatches of our musketry. Narvaez wasbadly wound-
ed, and had one of his eyes beaten out, on which account he
requested to send for Master Juan the surgeon ; and while
he was getting his eye dressed Cortes entered the room, when
Narvaez said to him : ** Senior Cortes ! thank your good
imtttne for having made me your prisoner." Cortes answered.
That his thanks were due to God and his valiant soldiers,
who had succeeded in more difficult achievements unce they
came to New Spain ; and ho considered the arrest of the
royal oydor was more daring than our present attack. He
then Im the room, with strict injunctions to Sandoval to
keep strict guard. Narvaez and the rest of the captured of-
ficers were removed into a more secure apartment, where I
and some other confidential soldiers were appointed for their
guard, and Sandoval gave me a private order to allow no
one to speak with Narvaez.
Cortes knew that forty of the enemies cavalry were still at
an outpost on the river, and that it was necessary to keep a
good look out, lest they might attack us for the rescue of
uieir officers. He sent, therefore, De Oli and De Ordas to
speak with them, on two horses which were found fastened
in a wood, and guided by one of the soldiers of Narvaez.
J3fy their arguments and fair promises, the horsemen were all
persuaded to submit, and came back with them. for that pur-r
pose to the town. It was now clear day, and Cortes wa«
seated in an arm-chair, with an orange-coloured mantle over
his shoulders, and his arms by his side, surrounded by his o&
ficers and soldiers. He received the salutations of the cava-
liers} asthey came up successively to kiss his hand, withamazing
affiibility, embracing them all most cordially, and politely comr
plimenting them. Among these were Bermudez, Uuero,
and several others, who were secretly his friends already.
Each of the cavaliers, after paying his respects, went to the
VOL. IV. ft quarters
Conqkat <af Metdeo rAtn h* book iii
quttfteM aabifllMd'for their lodginM. Everiinee dty^btvak,
tne diHink, flm, and tioibals'of the army of NarVa^ never
ceased their miMie in honour of Cortes, though none of ua
had indten a -word to them on the nubject. A cottrical fel-
low or a negro, who belonged to the band, daneed for joy^
dioutlng out } ** Where ore your Romans now ? They ne-
ver adiRved so glorioua a victory with ^uch small numben I"
We could not silence these nciay fellows, till C!orteB ordered
th^ to be confined^ In this action, a gentleman of SdriHey
ainil «tahdard*bearer to Narvaezj'Roxas^ one of his captains^^
and two others, were killed, and man^ wounded }' one also
of the three who deserted from us to hmt was killed^ and se-
veral wounded. The fat cacique also, who took reAige. in
the quarters of Narvaez on our approach, was wounded, and
Cortes ordered him to his house, to be there well taken care
of. As for Salvatierra, who had made so manv boasts^; his
own soldiers said ■ they never saw so pitiful a fellow. When
he heard our drum he was in a terrible fright, and wheh< we
shouted out victory, he declared he had a pain at his sto-
mach, and could fight ito more. Diego Velasquez, who was
wounded, was taken by his relation Juan Velasquex do Leon
tohis own quarters, where he was well taken care of j and
treated with the utmost attention ^
The reinforcement of warriors which Cortes had been
promised from Chinantla, marched into OiempoaDa soon af*
ter the conclusion of the action, under the command of Bar*
rientoB, who had marshalled them in a very shewy manner,
in regular files, lancemcn and archers alternately, 1500 in
number, accompanied with coLurs, drums, and trumpets,
and makinff a most warlike appearance, to the great asto-
nishmmt of the soldiers of Narvaez, wlu> thought they were
double the number. Our general received them with much
courtesv, and as their services were no longer needed, he
made mem handsome presents, and dismissed them with
thanks.
The arMy of Narvaez being now secured, Cortes. sent
F. de Lugo to order all the captains and pilots of the fleet to
come to Chempoalla, and directed all the ships to be dis-
° mantled, to cut off all communication with Cuba. ■ One Ba-
rahona, afterwards an inhabitant of Guatimala, had been con-
fined
8 Thb victory of Cortct over Narvafez took place on the 86th Mar
I5f0.— E.
jh\: ir. ^. ,V^Ai^--.?
«HAP.T.8KT. lit. bjf Hertumdo Oortef,
99
ItnpA by Nanraet* and was now set at Uheity, who was in a
▼ery weak state when he jomed uk The captains andmlote
4^'the flaet came on shore to pay their respects, and Oortes
bound them all by -oath not to leave him, ^pointing Pedro
Cavallaro, one of their number, admiral of the wl^ fleet
now in his possession! and, as more ships were expected
ftom Cuba, gave him orders to dismantle them all aa they
arrived, and to send the obtains and pilots to head>>^iarten.
AU' these important matters being arranged, and his autho>
lity completely established, Cortes prooee£d to such mtesnns
as seemed proper for extending and securing the conquest
and discovery of New S^n. For this purpose, Velasiniefe
de Leon was appointed to conduct an expedition to die nver
of Panuco, with 220 soldiers, 90 of which were taken from
among ourselves, and iOO from the soldiers of Narvaest
And was to be accompanied by two ships, on purpose to ex*
tend the discovery of the coast. ' Dic»o de Ordas, was apf
pointed with a similar force, to establish a colony in the pn>
vince of Ouacocuaico, or Coatzacualco ; and as that countty
was well adapted for breeding cattle, he was directed to send
to Jamaica n>r horses, mares, bulls, and cows, for the purpose
of establishing an independent supply in the country. All die
prisoners were released, except Narvaez and Salvatierra, who
still had the pain in his stomach. Cortes abb gave orders to
restore all their horses and arms to the sddiers of Narvaez,
which gave us all much dissatisfaction, but we were obliged
to submit. On this occasion I had to resign a good horse
with a saddle and bridle, two swords, three daggers^ and a
shield. Avila and Father Olmedoi' ^peaking on this snlgect
to Cortes, said he resembled Alexander the Great, who was
always more senerous to the vanquished, than to his own
conquering soniers. Indeed as fast as Cdrtes received gold
OF other valui^les, he gave away all to i the captains of the
other army, quite forgetml; of us who bad made nim what he
was. Cortes protested that he and all hehad was entirdy
devoted to our service, as he would shew by his iiiiure con^
duct ;' but that his present procedure was neoessarir for our
comm<Mi interest and safeQr, we being so few, and tne bthos
so numerous. Avila, who was of a iofty disposition, remon^
strated in an imperious manner, and Cortes was forced to
dissemble with him at the time, knowing him to be a brave
man { he pacified him thereforie with presents and flattering
promises, to prevent any violence, but took, care in foture to
employ
i)
"(l
I
100
Conquest of Mexico
PART II. BOOE lb
employ hiih in distant business, as his agent first in Hi^ta^
nida, and afterwards in %)ain.
There happened to come over in the army of Narvaez, a
n^gro who was iU of the small-pox, a most unfortunate cir-
cumstance for the people of New Spain, as the disease lipread
with astonishing rapidity through the country, and destroyed
the natives by thousands, as they used to Uirow themselves
into cokl water in the height of the disease, with the nature
of which they were utterly unacquainted* Thus multitudes
of unfortunate souls were hurried into eternity, without an
opportunity of beinff received into the bosom of the holy
Oitholic church. At this time, such of our soldiers as had
been in distant garrisons, applied to Cortes to receive thdr
shares of the gold which had been got in Mexico. As far as I
can remember, he referred them to a place in Tlascala, de-
siring that two persons might be sent to receive it at that
place ; and I shall have occasion to mention the result here*
after*
Section %.
Occurrences, Jrom the Defeat of Narvaez, 26M Matf 1530^
to the Expulsion of the Spaniards from Mexico, on the
1st, and the Battle of Otumba on the 4ith of July of the
same Year,
The wheel of fortune is ever in motion, evil following
closely upon good. This was strongly exemplified with us
at this time, as our late successes were speedily followed by
melancholy news from Mexico by express, informins us that
an insurrection had broke out in that city, that Alvarado
was besieged in hu quarters, which the natives had set on
fire, after l:illinff seven of his men and wounding many; for
which reason Alvarado earnestly entreated immediate suc-
cour. It is not to be expressed now much this news afflicted
us all. In consequence of this distressing intelligence, Cortes
countermanded the ocpeditions which were to have marched
under De Leon and ue Ordas, and determined upon an im-
mediate forced march to Mexico. We left Narvaez and
Salvatierra as prisoners at ViUa Rica, under the charae of
Roderigo Rantrel, who was likewise directed to collect aSthe
stragglers, and to take care of the invaUcb, who were numc'
rous.
CHAP. V. ssoT. X. ^ Hernando Coria*
lOi
rous; Just as we were ready to march, four principal
nobles arrived from the court of Mpntecuma, who made a
heavy complaint against Alvarado* who had assaulted them
while dsKicing at a solemn festivdin honour of their gods,
which had been hdd by his permission, imd stating that Uiey>
had been constrained to take up arms in their own defence^
during which seven of the Spanish soldiers/were slain. Cortes,
made them a short aqswer, saying that he would shortly be
1^ Mexico, when he would make proper inquiry and set all,
to rights, with which answer they had to return to Mouta^;
zuma, who ytSA much displeased with the insulting tone ip;
which it was given, more especially as a great number of hijl
subjects had Deen killed by Alvarado. , Before commencing^
our march, Cortes made a speech to the soldJUiis of Karvaez,,
exhorting them to forget all past animosities, and not to le^,
th^ present opportunity be lost tii serving bot^ his ipiyesty
and, themselves ; and by way of inducanient, gave them a,
magnificent picture of the riches of Mexico, jto a participar
tion in which their faithful conduct woukl eptiUethem^ ThpST
one and all decUred their resolution to ^^oesy jius , i^rders, . fUM|^
to proceed immediately to Mexico, which they A^PMld hi^rd)j,
have agreed to if they had known its ^rengt)ia,anid thp ni|-
merous martial population pf that city. ■■., ,
r^e arrived atTUscala by very long: iparc^^es, where wf,
were informed that the Mexicans had made incessant attacka,
on Alvarado, until Moptezuma and thev receiv^ intel^iffence,
of the defeat pf Narvaes ; after which they had deii^^,;
leftving the 3paiuards ii| great distress, owipg to«H»8nve>
&tigife froiia ^leir contii^ual exertions, and much in want of
water and provisions. At Tlascala, Qortes made a general:
muster and inspection of our anpy, which now amounted to
thirteen hundred meii, of whom nearly an hundred were-
cavalry, and a hundred and sixty armed with muskets and
crossbows. We were here joined by two thousand Tla»-^
calan warriors, and marched from hence to Tezcuco, where},
we were very Ul received, every thing bearing the appjoarance .
of disaffection. /r;
On St John's day, 24th of June 1520, we again entered^
Mexico ', where we met with a very different receptioniroin
what
1 We are not writing the hittoTY of the oonqaett of Mexico, yet may be
allowed to wyt|iat Cortes coimnitted a groit military error> m. entering
ia^»?«* Mexico
ii
'A
109
CoitfiteH qf Biesin pimr ti. book if.
m^at we< had experienced on our fonAer entry, on the 8th-
November 1519, seven montht and a half betWrOi' Not one
of the noUeif of our aequahitanc»e came now to mefet vt, and*
the whole dty teemed to havebeen deserted by itekihiibitantfc
Ob entering our quarters, Montecuma advanced to^dmbracw
Cortes, and to cotigratulMe him on his victory {but our ge^
neral.tumed from him with disdain, and would ndth«r spink
to him nbr listen to bis address^ on which the kinj^ returned
to hb apartment mudi cast down^' Cdrtes nuufe inquirj
into the causes and circumstenees of the late ton}iiiotion»
from all of whiiih it wan evident that it had neithM* iKBcn iii-
stigated nor approved by Montezuma )' as if h« Itad chosen
to act fl^Minst our garrison^' they might all hat« b^ as easily
destroys ta nHih seven. - Alvarido saidi 'Uiat this Indians
wereibnin^lied attne detention of their sovereignii artdby the
erection of the cross in their temple }' and tmih >rh^ they'
went^ as Oior sidd by order of their gods, to pull it clown, afl
dieir strengtn' WiM unable to move it from its place ; and that
l^fontezutaift had, itrlct^ .enjenned them to desist from idl such
fltttehipt^. ' Ih >8tificatibi^ of Wnudf, AlvaradO all^jied that
the fri^i|i AIid^8tltgtets of Montezuma had planned th6 at-
tack ttfkMV^hiaivfor Hie Kbenitlcm of th^lr sdverfeiiffn, at the
time when they believed ' Certea ^nd his airtny had been de-
Mroyed by Nairael;: And being questioned why he hisd feUen
on' th^ jMexteaiM, While holdings festival in honour of thehr'
^Qd», lie 'prMend^ that ' he had intelligence Of thcSr hostile'
uitehtikinii from ii priest iind two nobtes; and thought it safest
to'be beforehand with them. When pressed by Gortei to
my Whether the> Meiucam haid. not asked mi obtained his
permission to hbldiSiat festival,' he acknowledge^ It was so,'
and' that he h'atf fallen upon them by anticipation, that he
o(ht tierrifyihem into Atumssion, and prevent them from
~ - M war Vrftik ' the Spaniards. Gortes was highly di»-
1 With the conduct of Alvarado, and censured him in
the sttbn^t terms. "">'' .^h-' •'•'--. *.^ • ^ wtruivv :;•.-•,
Alvarado alleged that during one of the attacks of the
Mexicans on his quarters, he had endeavoured to fire off one
of his guns aiid could not get tile priming to take fire j but
sometime aflerwardi, when 'tiiey wer^ in great dimger, the
gun
Mexico vrithoot ettablishing a tttvng commonication of pott* between that
imulated cttv and tbe land> along one of the cauaeways ; which he might
eatily have aone along the shortest caiueway of Tacura or Hacopan, or by
the aqueduct of Chapolt«pcc.—'£.
♦^
<;raf« t. 8tcT. X. 1^ Hemmkh Cortes,
gun w«nt off of kidf atict macle prodij^oof hatodt tmong the
erieciy, who were thnenii-eeuleinly reimlsed, and the 8ba^
nkAlliktv^ from Inevitable' dcitlnieiieii.' Heeaiddao, that
thegirirrjioii being in ffreat dkttrte fer water* they tank »pit
til one of the eouitM* when iinittediatefy a tpring of the Iweetert
wilted Mimnff up. 1 know that there was a mriiur ihthe
dty which often prbdutied toleMbly fresh water*. Glory be
td God for all his nierdes ) Some alleged that' Alvarado was
excited to thu . attack by avarice, in order to plunder the
^dianisof their golden ornaments daring the festival; but
I am satisfied his attack proceeded from a mistaken idea of
preventing insurrectioa by terro?. It is certain, that even
after the massacre at the temple, Montesama used every en-
deaivour to prevent hfs subjects from attaeldng our people i
but they were so enraged that nothing could testram weir
eairer thirst for vengeance.
Iluring our march, Cortes had launched out to the new
comers in warm eulogiums on the riches of Mexico, the power
and influence which he ' had ao^ired, and 'the respect and
obedioMM of the Meitioahs, 'filhng them with promises and
expectations of enjoying gold in abundance. From the
negligent coldness of his reception in Tezcuco, and the simi-
lar appearances in- Mexico^ he became vex^, disaf^intedi
and peevish ; insomuch, that when the officers of Montezuma
Cam^to wait upon him^ and expressed the wishes of their
master to see him, Cortes exdaimed angrity ; ** Away with
the dog, wherdfore does he n^|^ect to supply us." The cap^
tains De I^eon, De Oli, and De Lugo, happening to be pre-
sent on this occAaioD, entreated him to remember the former
kindness and generbuty of the Mexitian sovereign, and to
treat him with moderation. ' This only seemed to irritate
Cortes 80 much the more, as it appeared to censure his con-
duct, and he indignantly answet'edt ** What obligations am
I under to the wretch, who plotted secretly against me with
Narvaez, and who now n^lects to supply us wiui provisions ?"
The captains admitted that this ought to be done, and Cortes
bemg'tuU of confidence in the great military power he
now cpmmanded, continued a haughty demeanour td the
Meidcan noblemen who still waitea his pleasure. Turning .
therefore to them, he desdred them to tell their master, that
he
» It is to lie noticed thst Ae Ukt in which die city of Mexico was buil^
contained water so salt as to be unfit for drinking. ~£.
Q^^-'^iar*?,-.
.^'•t^TSK
m
Conqueti^ Mexico VAKt ii. book ii.
he moat jamicdiately ardMrmaricetstobe hdd,aiidpfomM)iM
to be iopplie() for hit trnopt, or to beware of the oonvequen-
cea. These ; lords undeniood the general import of ine in-
jorioiH en»reMioni which Cortca had uaed aoainit Monte-
Mma, and made a fiuthful reoort to him of m1 that pawed.
Whether it may have procoeaed from raf^ on account of
(^probrioiu expremoni against thor soverdgn* or
tibese
from a plan previously concerted to fall upon us, I know not,
but within a quartt>r*of an hour* a soldier dangerously wound-
ed came running into our quarters, and reported that the
whole people were in arms against us. This man had been
tent by Cortes to bring over to our quarters the dau(|hter of
Montezuma and other Indian ladies, who had been left under
the charoe of the cacique of Tacuba, when we marched
uajnst Karvaez. He was returning with these ladies, when
the people attacked him in great numbers on the causeway
of Tacuba^ where they had broken down one of the bridges,
and had once seised him, and were forcing him into a canoe
to carry him off to be sacrificed ; but he extricated himsdC
by a violent effort, ' and got away with two dangerous
wounds.
Cortes immediately ordered out a detachment of 400 men
under Ordas, to see what was the matter, and to endeavour
to pacify the people t but he had hardly proceeded the lei^b
of a street, when he was assailed by immense numbers of tlie
natives, some in the street, and others from the terraced tops
of the houses, who killed eight of his men on the first dis-
charge of missiles, and wouncM mostly the whole of his men,
himself in three places. Finding it impossible to proceed,
Orcias retreated slowly towards our quarters, and soon after
lost another soklier, who did astonisning feats of valour with
» two-handed sword. The streets were so crowded with
enemies, and we were so incessantly attacked in front and
rear, and from the roofs, that for a long while he was unable
to force his way. Neither the effect of our fire-arms, nor the
most efficacious use of our other arms could deter the natives
from closing in upon us hand to hand, and foot to foot; but
at length Oi'das forced his way back, having lost in all
twenty-three of his men. Our quarters were attacked by
prodigious multitudes at the same moment that the attack on
Ordas began, and they poured in such incessant discharges
of missile weapons, that they soon wounded above forty-six
pf our men, of whom twelve atlerwards died. £veo after the
retreat
eH4i?* Y* *>CT* ^ ^ Htrnando Corks.
m
xetreafc of Ordai» the enemy continiMd their attackf, and at
length Mt fire to varioiM parte of the buildings fiwimng our
^aarter9» thinking to burn u« aliTe or to stifle usividi smoke i
and we were reduced to the necessity of tearing down some
parte of die building, and to throw earth upon other parts*
to extinguish the fire. AH the courte and <^n places of our
quarters were thickly strewed with arrowy, stones, and darts,
which had been thrown at us ; and we were occupied the
whole day and night, in repelling the incessant assaulte, re-
pairing the breaches in our defences, dressing our wounds,
and preparing for future assaults. At dawn of the ensuing
morning, we sallied out with our whole force, determined to
conquer or to impress them with respect The Mexicans
met us with the utmost resolution, and though we fousht
almost in despair, their number^ were so immense, and they
continually brought up such strong reinforcements of fresh
troops, that even if w^ had all been Hectors or Orlandos,
we eouhl not have forced them to dve ground. It is quite
impossible to give any adequate idea of the obstinacy and
violence of this battle, ^liough in every reiterated charge
we brought down thirty or forty of the enemy, it had i)<>e£Pect,
as th^ returned upon us with more violence and desperation
than before ; our musketry and cannon made no impression
that was not instantly replaced ; and if at any time they gave
ground, it was only to draw us farther from our quarters, to
make our destruction more sure. In the midst of all diis,
the stones and darte which were launched upon us from the
terraces of the. house tops did us astonishing injury. Some
of our soldiers who had l)een in the wars m Italy declared,
that neither among Christians or Turks, nor even in the
French artillery, had they ever seen such desperate fighting
as now among these Indians. We were at length forced to
retreat to our quarters, which we reached with mfinite diffi-
culty, after losing ten or twelve of Our men killed, and almost
every one of us severely wounded.
After our return, we were busily occupied in preparing for
a general sally on the next day after but one, with rour mill-
tary engines of strong timber like towers, each of which was
calculated to contain twenty-five men under cover, with port-
holes for the artillery, and for muskets and crossbows. Du-
ling this interval we had likewise to repair the breaches
which the Mexicans had made in our walk, and to resist
j^eir attempte to scale them, often in twenty places at onc&
The
■ H
■■*■]
106
OmtfnntqfMtkiio TAn'it, book ii.
The MtefoiM ^^oa^fy QMS the ifQMt fa^orttNif langim
fMUtfc upi Miriiur that the yonicitfiii anlmali In th^gMil
temjl^te bid btlniltept fitt(ihjrfbirt«o<byi,tMktthwinl^
be^ tM^ to d^vottjr our h6mt^ whtn we were lamikied to
thdir gods; They nnmred m at thiitametfane thtfC'oil^ alliei
wei^ U^ be piitimo d^ to &tten, end that diey iroold aboh
renter 'our iH ' got trcaaure. Somethnee they edhired na ih
the niOatf pkihtlve tenna to reatore thifar king to liberty, and
thcy'anbOyed' in without' coaaing by flightv of arrows, con-
stantly thouting and whMH^. On the enniirig morning at
daV-Meak, having first Teoomnwnded bundVes to Ckn>i wa
sallied out frotai our qaartov with the tnrrela, sncli as 1 haVe
leen in other places, and baited atofi/af or kotos. Our
cbkhnn was headtd by a party of mnsketeerft and crossbow-
meij, aiid our cavalry on our flanks, occasionally charging
the «n^y. Our purpose was to assail tneiprM tempfo, inAen
by it* d^ation iind strong enclosures, served as a dtadcl to
tm MindcanK, and we advanced therefore in that direction, ae-
cOmpuUed by our turreta j but the enemy resisted all our ef*
forts with the most determined obstinacy. I will not attempt
to rriatii all the circumstances of this desperate bal^, or the
diflRci^iy rhich we had to encounter in drivfaig the enemy
from a vf^ty strong house whidi th«y oecupied. The
arrowi of uie Mexicans wounded many of our horser,
notwiUiMaiid^lg that they wore defensive armour { and when
ottrcatafay attempted at any time to charge or tp tm^ue the
enemv, they threw tbemsehres into the canak, while others
i^ea out Irpm the houses on both sides 'with Joliglancea,
assailinff our ' peofde in the rear and on both flanks. It was
ntieily unpossiole for us to bum the hoases, or to pull th^
di^iirb, as they an stood singi;' in tha water, communicating
on)y fay means of.draw-bi1tigt.iti and it was too dangerons
for us to' attempt reaching thdn by. swimming, as th^ show-
ered Tollies of stones upon us wf slings, and thriew large
stones upon our heaHs from the tenraces of their house tops.
Even when a house was set on fire, it was very long of taking
efiect; and even when we succeeded, the flames could not
oommunicate to the other houses, as they were all sepap-
rated by canals, and their rooft wore terraced, 'not thatch-
ed.
At length we reached the great t«>mplle, into which four
thonstod of the Mexicans immedi. 'df -'•rhec' indepe.^«lent
of other large bodies who were prevbiyv 5f;a.iuued th';re for
its
eiiAT^ V. tier. X. bjf Hemando Cortn,
rat'
its defimoe. Tboy ddmded their temple with tlie inoil<'
obetiiitte vftloar, Mid tar aome time prevwited ut from beiag
able to aieend, durtumti, muilntrjr, uid cftteli^, beingoi
iK> ftveil to Aroe Aem to give flrtotand. The pavemetou of
die iemble conrtf were lo troooai, that the lionet M when'
our cevany'httemMed to chei^. The^ oppoied ut In front r
ftom ihe ttcpe ofthe great templi^, anci itM 'od ni with luch .
Ifaryon bodi ftinlia and intherer* h.-tt^^agh ourguni
■wept off a doien or fifteen of tlir ^ i ; -vt y ^inchaige, wd
though in each charae of otir iafiimrywe drilled manvof
them with our iwordt anA !ancu»« t:« ; oontinnally filled up
the chasms we had iiade .' ong tbeta, and their numbers
and rModution wore sr ^ a. that we could not make any
permanent or e£R?ct<ial impi-ession. "^Vt were even forced toj
lAandon our mantat or turrets, which the »;nemy had de»^
niollshed. .' At Jongdif by a de^ierate effort, we toroed our
way Up this steps, and in this assMiIt Cortes shewed himself m
h^rd.' Our mtUe in this place was most de«>erate, every
man amon^ os beins covcrud with blood, and aoove forjhr of
our number Ify dead on the spot. Wef reached with inmiite
diflRculty the iMace where we had formerly ^et up the image of
the bldMcdVifrin, which was not to be round, as it had been
rem<yvel by brmr of Montezuma, either through fear or firom
d^v6tion'& his idoh: We set fire to the buildings, and
bidmt down a part of the temples of HuitsUopochtU and
TestdttKpoca'i and while some ot us were employed in setting
fini t^ tne biHldinirs, and others fighting, in which (Hir ilas-
(Millan alliM seconded us most gallantly, above three thousand
Mexican noblies, headed by their priests, made a roost severe
attlick, and drove us down eicht or ten of the steps. Qthors
of the' toemy from the corridors, or within the railings and
omcavities of the temple, assailed us on every side with ar^
ripws and other missiles, so that we were unable even to main-
tain'the jf^iiidd we had gained. We were constrained
therefore !.-> »rry«t, ever^ r^'n of us being wounded, and
foirty-' ! '♦ . >. • iumber oiam. We regained our quarters
with ia^ uUdOst difficulty, which the enemy had almost gain-
ed possession of, as they had been continually endeavouring
to cany them \n assault during our absence, or to set them
on fire. Biit they desisted in a great measure from the as-
sault on our arrival, yet continued to throw , in perpetual
showers of arrows, darts, and stones. In the cour^«3 of this
most terrible engagement) wc made two of the chief prit>sts
prisoners.
II
m
Conquest of Mexico part ii. book ii*
}.'
prisonent whom we carried along with us to our quarten).
I have often seen representations of this battle in Mexican
Eaiatings, both at Mexico and Tlascala, in which the various
icidents were represented in a very lively manner. Our
ascent to the great temple ; the setting the temple on fire )
the numerous warriors defending it in the corridors, from
behind the *:t'*ht and in the concavities^ and others on the
plain ground, in the courts of the temple, and on all sides of
us ; many of our men being represented as dead, and all
of us covered with wounds. In these paintings, the destruc-
tion of our turrets is conspicuously rq)resented asfa most
heroic achievement.
The night which succeeded this unfortunate battle was
passed by us in a most melancholy state; repairing the.
breaches which had been made in the walls of our quarters,
dressing our wounds, burying our slain companions, and
consultmg upon measures for extricating us from our present
almost hopeless situation. The followers of Narvaez neaped
maledictions on Cortes for leading them to Mexico, and
Velasquez came in for an ample share of their abuse, for,
having induced them to quit their peaceful habitations in
Cuba. The enemy assembled around us again at day-break,
and assailed our quarters with greater fury than ever, inso-
much that our fire-arms were insufiicient to repel tliem,
though they mowed them down in great numbers. In this
desperate situation, Cortes sent for Montezuma, whom he
desired to address his subjects from a terrace, desiring them
to desist from their attacks, assuring them that we woiud im-
mediately evacuate the city. On receiving this message,
Montezuma burst into tears, exclaiming, ** What does ne
want with me now ? I have been reduced to my present un-
happy state on his account, and I neither wish to see him
nor to live any longer ?" He thecefore dismissed the mes^
sengers with a refusal, and it is reported that he added, that
he desired not to be any more troubled with the false words
and specious promises of Cortes. Father Olmedo and Cap-
tain Dc Oli went to wtit upon him, and used all possible
expressions of respect and anection to induce him to comply
with the request of Cortex. To this he replied, that he did
not believe any thing he could now do would be of any avail,
as the Mexicans had elected another sovereign, and were re-
solved not to allow a single Spaniard to quit the city alive.
He mode his appearance however at the railing of a terraced
- - roofi
>#
hi
«IIA1^. f. sSCT. jL hy Hernando Cortei.
109
roof, attended by many of our aoldien, ahd made a very af-
fectionate address to the people below, earnestly entreating a
cessation of hostilities, tnat we might evacuate Mexico. As
soon 88 Montezuma was perceived, the chiefs and nobles made
their troops to desist m>m the attack, and commanded
silence. Then four of the principal nobles came forwards, so
near as to be able to hold conversation with Montezuma whom
they addressed, lamenting the misfortunes which had befallen
him and his family. They told him that they had raised
Cuitlahuatzin ^ to the throne ; that the war woald soon be
ended, as they had promised to their sods never to desist till
they had utterly destroyed the Spaniards ; thut they offered
up continual prayers tot the safety of Montezuma their be-
loved sovereign, whom they would venerate and obey as for-
merly, as soon as they had rescued him from onr hands, and
hoped he would pardon all they had done for the defence of
their religion and independence, and their present disobe-
dience. Just as they concluded this address, a thower of
arrows fell about the place where Montezuma stood ; and
though the Spaniards had hitherto pirotecled him by inter-
posing their shields, they did not expect any assault while he
was speaking to his subjects, and nad therefore uncovered
him for an instant ; in that unguarded state, three stones and
an arrow hit him on the head, the arm, and the leg, wound-
ing him severely. Montezuma refused every assistance, and
all the endeavours of Father Olmedo could not prevail upon
him to embrace the holv Catholic faith, neither could he be
prevaf led upon to have his wounds attended to. When in-
formed of his death, Cortes and our captains lamented him
exceedingly, and all of us soldiers who had been acquainted
with his generosity and other amiable qualities, grieved as for
the loss of a father. He was said to have reigned seventeen
years, and to have been the best of all the sovereigns who
had ruled over Mexico; having fought and conquered in
three pitched battles, while subjugating other states to his do-
minions.
Afler the death of Montezuma, Cortes sent two of our
prisoners, a nobleman and a priest, with a message to the
new sovereign Cuitlahuatzin, to inform him of the melan-
choly
' 3 This prince, whom Diaz names Coadlavica, was brother to Montezu-
ma, prince of IzUpslapan, and TIachcocoatI; or grand general of the Mexi-
caa army.— £.
'*-.
*.;^^.
110
Ccnquea i^Mamco part ii* book w
.choly event* which had hi^ppened by the handi of hi* own
■utj^ti I to eiqpreM our grier on the ocqaaion ; and our with
that |lf ontecuma might oe interred with that respect vihkk
was due to hi^ exalted character. Cortes likewise informed
these messengem, that he did not acknowledge the right of
the sovereign whom the Mexicans had chosen, as the tnrone
ought to belong to the son of the ^at Montezuma, or to
his cousin, who was now a prisoner m our quarters He de^
sired them also to say^ if they would desist from hostilities,
we would immediately march out of their city. He then or^
dered the body of Montezuma to be carried out 1^ six nobles,
and attended by most of tlie priests whom we had taken pIi^
soners, desiring them to deliver the body of their deceased
monaixh to the Mexican chiefs, according to his dying in-
junctions. y{e could hear the «Kclamations of sorrow which
were expressed by the people, at the sight of the body oS
their late sovereign ) but our message was unavailing, as Uiey
recommenced their attack on our quarters with the utmost
violence, threatening tlmt in two days we should aU pay with
OUT lives tor the death of their king and the dishonour
of their gods, as they had now a sovereisn whom we coukl
not deceive as we had done by the good Ai^tezuma.
Our situation was now exceedingly alarming, and on the
day after the death of Montezuma, we made another sally
towards that part of the city which contained many houses
buOt on the firm ground, meaning to do all the injury we
could, and, taking advantage of the causeway, to charge
through the enemy with our cavalry, hoping to intimidate
them i)y severe militory execution, so as to induce them to
Swt us a free passage ; 'we accordingly forced our way to
at part of the city, where we burnt down about twenty
houses, and verv nearly reached the firm land *. But the
injury we did the enemy was dearly purchased by the death
of twenty of our soldiers, and we were unable to gain posB«>t-
sion of a)iy of the bridges, which were all partly broken down,
and the enemy had constructed barricades or retrenchments
in various places to obstruct the cavalry, wherever thev could
have done most essential service. 1 hus our troubles and
perplexities continually increased, and we were ibrced again
to
4 The expression in the text, of having nearly reached the firm land*
Is rather obscure, and may poMiUy mean that they had nearly forced their
way along one of the causeways leading from the insular city to the conti*
ncntal shore of the lake. — £.
''%l
CHAP. V. fBCT. X. ly Hernando Cortes.
Ill
to fight our wA^ bock to our quamn. In thw sdly» wbich
U»ck plaice on a rhursd*y,.Sandovnl and others of our eayid-
1^ acted ;:with great bravery ; but those who came with Nar-
vaez» not having hten accustomed to such service* wero
timotous in. comparison with our veterans. The number and
fiiry of our enemies incretted daily, while our force was di-
minished by each successive attack, and from our wounds we
were liecome less abl0 for resistance. Our powder was almost
entirely .expended; provisions and water became scarce;
our friend Montezuma was no more ; all our proposals for
peace were rejected ( the bridges by which we nught have
retreated were broken down ( and in fine nothing but death
in its direst form of immolation to thdr horrime idols ap-
peared before us. In this state almost bordering on despair,
It was resolved by Cortes in a consultation with all his con-
fidential officers and soldiers, to make an attempt to quit the
city during the night, as we were in expeCtatioU to find the
enemy less upon their guard than in the day time. In order
to deceive them, a message was sent by'one of their chief
priests who had been made prisoner, engaging to give up all
the treasure in our possession, if they would give us permis-
sion within eiffht days to quit the city. Four days before
this, one BoteUo, who pretended to be an astrologer, pre-
dicted that if we did not leave Mexico on this very night,
that none of us would over get out of it alive, adding many
Other foolish particulars to his prophecy.
As it was determined to endeavour to force our way from the
city, a portable bridge of very strong timber was preparedfor
enabling us to pass over the canals or passages in the causeway,
where the enemy had broken down the bridges ; and one
hundred and fifty of our soldiers, with four hundred Tlasca-
lan allies, were appointed for conveying, guarding, ttnd plo^
cing thu bridge. The advanced guard of an hundred of our
youngest and most active men, was commanded by Sandoval,
assisted by Azevedo, De Lugo, De Ordas, and De Tapia,
with eight of the captains that came with Narvaez. The rear
guard of an hundred men, mostly those of Narvaez, and the
greater part of our cavalry, was confided to Alvarado and
Velasquez de Leon. Donna Marina and Donna Luiso,
with the Mexican chiefs who were prisoners, were placed un-
der an escort of thirty Spanish soldiers and three hundred
TIascalans : Our general, with Avila, OH, and other officers,
and fifty soldiers, formed a body of reserve to act where they
might
i
I
\
M
112
Canquea of MesiOf paKt tt. boo& IV^
II
'■ fl
I'
might be moat needed. Hie rest of our soldiers and alBes^-
wim tbe bagvaflei formed a main body along with which the
prisoners and their especial escort was to move» under pro-i
tection of the van and rear guards. By the time that all
these arrangements were competed, it drew towards night,"
and Cortes caused alt the gold, which had hitherto been kepit
in his apartment, to be brought into the great hall of our
quarters, when he desired Avila and Mexia, the kings offi-
cers, to take charge of what belonged to his majesty, assign-
ing them eight wounded horses and above fourscore Mexi-
cans for its conveyance. When tuese were loaded with all
the gold they were able to carry, a great deal more remained
heaped up in the saloon. Cortes then desired his secretary
Hernandez and other notaries to bear witness that he could
no longer be responsible for this gold ; and desired the sol-
diers to take as much as they pleased, saying it were better
for them to have it, than to leave it to their Mexican ene-
mies. Upon this many of the soldiers of Narvaez, and some
even of our veterans, loaded themselves with treasure. I
was never avaricious, and' was now more intent on saving my
life than on the possession of riches : I todi the opportunity,
however, of carrying off four calchihuis from a casket, though
Cortes had ordered nis major-domo to take especial care of
this casket and its contents, and these jewels were of infinite
use to me afterwards, as a resource against famine, as they
are highly prized by the Indians. The memorable night of
our leaving Mexico, was dark, with much mist and some
rain. Just before midnight, the detachment having charge
of the portable bridge moved off from our quartera, followed
in regular succession by the other divisions of our army. On
coming to the first aperture in the causeway of Tacuba or
Tiacopan, by which we retreated as being the shortest, the
bridge was laid across, and was passed by the vanguard, the
baggage, artillery, part of the cavalry, the Tlascalans with
the gdd. Just as Sandoval and his party had passed, and
Cortes with his body of reserve, the trumpets of the enemy
were heard, and the alarm was given on every side, the
Mexicans shouting out, *' Tlaltelulco! Tlaltelulco' ! out with
your
5 Tlaltelulco wti the name of that diviuon of the city of Mexico through
which the Spaniards marched in their way towardi the causeway oil Tacu-
ba, aad wu probably uied to lummon the inhabitants of that quarter to the
attack.— E. . .,,^.,., ^ .„..-,., ,„... ,.^, ., • .„ . - ,-.^.,-'
CBAP. V. SECT. X. Inf Hernando Cortes,
lis
your canoes ! the teules arie marching ofii.aBnul them at the
bridges i " In an instant the enemy amailed us on evenr
side, some on the land and others in their canoes, which
swarmed on the lake and the canals on both sides of our
road, and so numerous were they and so determined that
they entirely intercepted our line of march, especially at the
broken bridges, and from this moment nothing but confusion
and dismay prevailed among our troops. It rained so hetlvily
that some of the horses became restive and plunged into the
water with their riders ; and to add to our distress our port-
able bridge was broken down at this first gap, and it was no
longer sei-viceable. The enemy attacked us with redoubled
fiiry, and as our soldiers made a brave resistance, the aper-
ture became soon choked up with the dead and dying men
and horses, intermixed with artillery, packs and bales of bag-
gage, and those who carried them, all heaped up in the wa-
ter. Many of our companions were drowned at this place,
and many were forced into canoes and hurried away to be sa^
crificed. It was horrible to hear the cries of these unfortu-
nate captives, calling upon us for aid which we were unable
to give, and invoking tne blessed Virgin and all the saints in
vain for deliverance. Others of our companions escaped a-
cross those gaps in the causeway, by clambering over the con-
fused mass of dead bodies and luggage by which they were
filled, and were calling out for assistance to he^ them up ott
the other side ; while many of them, thinking themselves in
safety when they got to the firm ground, were there seized
by the Mexicans, or killed with war clubs. All the regularity
which had hitherto guided our march was now utterly lost
and abandoned. Cortes and all the mounted officers and sol-
diers galloped off along the causeway, providing for their
own immediate safety, and leaving all the rest to save our-
selves as we best might : Nor can I blame them for this pro-
cedure, as the cavalry could do nothing against the enemy,
who threw themselves into the water on both sides of the
causeway when attacked, while others, by continual flights of
arrows from the houses, or with long lances from the canoei
on each side, killed and wounded the men and horses. Our
powder was all expended, so that we were unable to do any
injury to the Mexicans in the canoes. In this situation of
utter confusion and derout, the only thing we could do was by
uniting together in bands of thirty or forty, to endeavour t(»
force our way to the land : When the Indians closed upon us,
vol.. IV. I|r we
1\ #!■ •■ J^-» •'■
;•< '- « ->*;''-
lU
Conguest of Mexico part ii. book ix
we, exerted our utmost efforts to drive them off with our
swords, and then hurried our march to get over the cause-
way as soon as possible. Had we waited for each other, or
had our retreat been in the day, we had all been inevitably
destroyed. The escape of such as made their way to land,
was due to the mercy of God who gave us strength to force
our way ; for the multitudes that surrounded us, and the me-
tanchoty sight of our companions hurried away in the canoes
to instant sacrifice, was horrible in the extreme. About fifty of
us, mostly soldiers of Cortes, with a few of those who came with
Karvitez, stuck together in a body, and made our way along
tlie causeway through infinite difficulty and ganger. Every
how and then strong parties of Indians assailed us, calling us
twUmeSyiiieit severest term of reproach, and using their ut-
most endeavours to seize us. As soon as we thou^t them
within reach, we faced about and repelled them wiui a few
thrusts of our swords, and then resumed our march. We
thus proceeded, until at last we reached the firm ground near
TacuDa, where Cortes, Sandoval, De Oli, Salcedo, Domin-
gucz, LareS| and others of the cavalry, and such of the infan-
try as had got across the bridge before it was broken down,
^ad already airived *.
' On our approach, we heard the voices of Sandoval, De 01i«
and Mbrla, calling on Cortes to return to the assistance of
those who were still on the causeway, who loudly complained
of being i^bandoned. Cortes replied, that it was a miracle
ahv should have escaped, and that all who returned to the
bridges would assuredly be slain : Yet he actuaUy did return
with ten or twelve of the cavalry and such of the infantry as
had escaped unhurt, and proceeded along the causeway to
attempt the succour of sucn as might be still engaged. He
had hot gone far when he met Alvarado badly wounded, ac-
companied by three of our soldiers, four of those belonging
to Narvaez, and eight Tlascalans, all severely wounded and
Covered with blood. These Alvarado assured him were all
that remained of the rear-guard, Velasquez de Leon and a-
bout twenty of the cavalrv, and above an hundred of the in-
fantry, who had belonged to his division, being all slain, or
made
6 Chvigero, II. 1 16, says that tlie mtterable remnant of the Spaniards as*
sembled in Popotia, a village near Tacuba or TIacopan. Diaz is often ne-
gligent of dates, but we learn in a subsequent passage, that this disastrous
retreat from Mexico was on the istof July l580.--£.^
H
Y
pHAP. V. SBOT. X. by Hernando Cones.
115
made priBonen and carried away to be sacrificed. He said
farther, that after all the horses were slain, about eighty had
assembled in a body and passed the first gap on thelieaps of
luggage and dead bodies; that at the other bridge the few who
now accompanied him were saved by the mercy of God.
I do not now perfectly recollect in what manner he passed
that last aperture, as we were all more attentive to what he
related of the death of Velasquez and above two hundred of
our unhappy companions. As to that last &tal bridge, which
is still called Sa/to de Alvarado^ or the Leap of Alvarado, we
were too much occupied in saving our own lives to examine
whether he leaped much or little. He must, however, have
got over on the baggage and dead bodies ; for the water was
too deep for him to have reached the bottom with his lance,
and the aperture was too wide and the sides too high for him
to have leaped over, had he been the most active man in the
world. In about a year after, when we besieged Mexico, I
was engaged with the enemy at that very bridge which was
called Alvarodos Leap, where the enemy had constructed
breastworks and barricades, and we all agreed that the leap
was impossible. One Ocampo, a soldier who came with Go*
ray, who used to amuse himself with lampoons, made one on
this supposed feat of Alvarado, saying, *' That fear made
him give that prodigious leap, leaving Velasauez and two
hundred more to their fate as he leaped for nis life." As
Cortes found, by the information of Alvarado, that the cause-
way was entirely filled by the enemy, who must have inter-
cepted all the rest of our companions, he returned to Tacuba,
where all who had escaped were now collected. Messengers
had been already sent from Mexico, ordering all the people
of Tacuba, Ezcapuzalco, Tenajocan, and other neighbouring
cities on that side of the lake, to collect and attack us ; and
they now began to surround us in the inclosed courts of Po-
poua where we had taken shelter, harassing us with stones
and arrows, and even attacking us with lances, many of which
were headed with the swords which we lost during our re-
treat. We defended ourselves against this attack as well as
we could, and made several sallies to drive them off. But, as
the enemy continually increased in number, it was determin-
ed to endeavour to reach Tlascala, for which purpose we set
out under the direction of six or seven of our allies who were
well acquainted with the country. After a fatiguing march
by an indirect road, during which we were much harassed
rrim»m%
116
Conquest of Mexico fart ii. book if*
■ i
by the enemy, who plietl us with stones and arrows, we reach-
ed some houses on a hill near a temple, where we defended
ourselves, and took such care as we could ot' onr wounds i
but could get no provisions. After the conquest of Mexico,
a church was built on the site of this temple, and dedicated
to Nuestra Senora de los Bemedios, our Lady of Succour, to
which many hidies and other inhabitants of Mexico, now go
in procession to pav nine days devotion ''.
Our wounds had become extremely painfbl from cold, and
want of proper dressings, end wc now bound them np as well
as we could. We had to deplore the loss of great numbers
of our valiant companions, most of the soldiers of Narvaez
having lost their lives by being overloaded with gold. Poor
Botello the astrologer was killed amonK the rest. The sons
of MoBtesoma, Cacamatzin who had been prince of Tezcu-
co, and all the other prisoners, amoii^ whom were some
Mexican princes, lost their lives on this fatal night of our i^
treat from Mexico. All our artillery were lost. "We had on-
ly twenty-three horses remaining, and very few crossbows ;
and our situation was melancholy and desperate in the ex-
tr^rnie, having no other resource but to endeavour to reach
Tloacala, and even there our rcc^tion was exceetlingly un-
certain^. Afte> dressing our wounds, and making arrows
for our crossbows, during which employment we were inces-
santly haraMed in our present post, we proceeded at mid-
night on our march, under the direction of our ftiithful Tlas-
cauns. Some of those who were badly wounded had to walk
with tlie aid of crutches) others were assisted on each side by
some of their companions ; and those who were utterly un-
able to support themselves were placed upon lame horses.
Thus, making head against the enemy with as many of the
infantry
7 Thif place it aboat n'me miln W. N. W. from Mexico, and onTy about
a vaSt and a half from Tacuba. Its Mexican name, according to Clavige*
ro, was Otoncalpolro. It it almoet in an opposite direction wm the x^ad
to Tiaicala, but was probably chosen on purpose to avoid the populous hos>
tile Tale of Mexico, and to get as soon as ponible among tne hills, and
«nong some of the conquered tribes.who bore the Mexican yoke with impa«
tience. Chvigero says that the Spaniards procured at this place some refresh*
ments from a tribe of Otomies, who inhabited two ndghbouring hamlets.— £•
8 The distance from where they now vrtrt to TTascala was between 80
and 90 miles in a straight line ; but as they chose a very circuitous route, by
the west and north of the lakes in the vale of Mexico, before turning south-
eaMwards to TIascala, their march must have much exceeded that distance .
11 •- - - .-.
CHAP. T. SECT. X. ^ HeTtumdo Cortes.
ni
infantry as could bear arms, and having the cavalry who'
were able to act in front and on our flanks, with the wound-
ed i^Mniards and allies in the centre, we marched on conti-
nually harassed by the enemy, who reviled us, sayin^p that
we should soon meet our destruction j words that we did not
then understand. I have forgot to mention the satisfaction
we all enjoyed at finding Donna Marina and Donna Luisa
had been saved in our retreat from Mexico. Having cros-
sed among the first, they had been brought safe to Popotla by
the exertions of two brothers of Donna Luisa, all the rest of
the female Indians having been lost in the retreat.
On this day we reached a large town named Gualtitlan *.
From that place we continued our march, still harassed at
every step by the enemy, whose numbers and boldness in-
creased as we advanced, insomuch that ther killed two of our
lame soldiers and one of our horses at a difficult pass, wound-
ing many both of our horbes and ourselves. Having repulsed
them, we reached some villages, where we halted for the
night, making our supper of the slain horse"*. We beoan
our march very early next morning, and had only proceeded
about a league, believing ouriiclves now almost in safety, when
three of our videts came iu with a report that the whcde de-
tent of a plain through whicli we must necessariiv pass was
covered oyer by an innumerable army. This inteiliffence was
truly terri&ing to our small numbers, worn out wiu fatigue
and privations, and covered with wounds ; yet we resolved
to conquer or die, as we had indeed no other alternative.
We were immediately halted and formed in order of battle,
the infantry being directed to use their swords only in thrusts,
by which we exposed ourselves less to the weapons of the ene-
my, and the cavalry were ordered to charge dear through at
half
■»■
or
9 Named Quauhtltlan by Clavigero, and Guautitlan, Huauhtitlan
Teutitlan, in Humboldts map of the Vale of Mexico.— E.
10 As related in the texti this march to the villages appears to have been
made on the same day whh that to Guauhtitlan, and the battle of Otumba
or Otompan, to have been fought on the second day of the march firom Po-
potla or Los Remediot. But the distaiftces and difficulty of the march renders
this almost impossible. The chronology and distances, taking the names of
some of the stages from Clavigero, IL 117, and thed^tances from Hum-
boldts map, may have been as follows : Retreat Arom Mexico to Popotla,
1st July, 9 miles. March to Quauhtitlan, 2d July, 10 nules. To Xoloc,
3d July, 13 miles. To Zacamnko, 4tb July, 10 miles. To OtonxMa,
sth July, 3 miles :— and indeed these dates are sufficiently Goi^qaed by
Diaz himself in the sequel.— '£.
118
ConqueH iff Mexico part ii. boor il.
half ipctdi withtlieir loncet levelled Rt the facet of the enemy,
never ■tom>ing to make thnntt. While recommending our-
■ehree to uod and his Holy Mother* and invoking the aid of
St JagO» the enemy began to cloie around ut, and we rcaol-
ved to uA\ our lives dearly, or force our way through. The
infiuitry beins drawn up in a solid column, and our cavalnr
formed in bodies of five, wo proceeded to the attack. It i«
impossible to describe the tremendous battle which ensued ;
How we closed hand to hand, and with what fury the enemy
attacked us, wounding us with their clubs and lances and
two-handed swords { while our cavalry, fiwoured bv the even
surface of the plain, rode through them at will with couched
lances, bearing down the eneniv wherever they came, and
fighting most manfully though they and their horses were all
wounded. We too of the infantry did our bent, regardless
of our former wounds and of those we now received, dosing
up with the enemy, and using every effort to bear them down
with our swords. Cortes, Aivarado, and De Oli, though all
wounded, continued to make lanes through the throng of the
enemy, odling out to us to strike eBpecially at the c!iieiii, who
wero easily distinguished by their plumes of featb'^rs, golden
ornaments, rich arms, and curious dcviceti. The valiant San-
doval encouraged us by his example and exhortations, cx-
daiming, ** mw is the day of victory I Trust in Qpd, who
will stilfprcserve us to do him service." Wc were all reso-
lute to conquer or die, and were assuredly assisted by the
Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Virgin* and St Jago { as was
afterwards certified by a chief belonging to Guatimotcin, who
was present in this battle. Thougli some were killed and
many wounded, we continued to maintain our ground, yet
the enemy never relaxed in their efforts. At length it was
the will of God, that Cortes, accompanied by Sandoval, Dc
Oli, Aivarado, Avila, and other captains, came up to that
part of the enemy in which their commander-in-chief was
)H>sted, who was distinguished from all the rc!»t by his rich
golden arms, and highty adorned plume of feathers, and the
grand standard of the army ". Immediately on Cortes per-
ceivinff this diief, who wos surrounded by many nobles wear-
ing plumes of feathers, he exclaimed to his companions,
" Now,
11 According to Cltvigero, II. lis, this standard was n nat of gold fixed
to a staff ten palms long, which was firmly tied to his ba^ k| and was called
by the Mexicans TIahuumatlaxopilli.—£.
CHAP. V. iBCT. X. ^ Hernando Cortet.
119
*< Now» ffentlomcn, let ui charge these men, and if we luooeed
the day m our own." Then, recommending themielvea to
Oodi tnev charged upon them, and Cortes struck the Mexi-
can chief and threw down his standard, he and the other c*-
vailors effectually breaking and diitpersing this numerous bo-
dy. The Mexican chief, however, was making his escape,
but was pursued and slain by Juan do Salamanca, who seized
his rich plume of feathers and presented it to Cortes, saying,
that OS he hod flrU struck tlic Mexican general and over-
thrown the standard, the trophy of the conquest was his un-
doubted right.
It pleased God, that the enemy nhould relax in their efforts
immediately on l';arning the death of their general and of the
numerous chiofs who surrounded him. On perceiving that
they began tc retreat, we forgot our hunger, thirst, fatigue,
and wounds, and thought of nothing but victory and pursuit.
Our scanty covolry followed thcni up close, dealins destruo
tion around them on every stdei and our faiuiful allies
fought like lions, mowing down all before them with the arms
which the enemy threw away to facilitate their flight On
the return of our cavalry from the pursuit, we gave humble
thv*nks to Ood for our unexpected victory and muraculous pre-
servation. Never had the Mexican empire collected together
so large a force as on this occasion { being composed of all
the warriors of Mexico, Texcuco, and Tlalcopan, headed by
the whole nobilit}' of these nations, mugnificiently armed and
adorned, and all determined not to leave a single trace of us
upon earth. This great and decisive battle was fought in the
the neighbourhood of a place calletl Obtumba, Otumba, or
Otompan. I have frequently seen it, and all the other battles
we fought against the Mexicans, antecedent to the final con-
quest, admirably represented in Mexican paintings. It is
now proper to mention, that we entered Mexico to relieve
Alvarado on the 21th of June 1520, with upwards of 1300
soldiers, including 97 cavalry, 80 musketeers, and 80 arm-
ed with crossbows; having with us a great train of artillerv,
and 2000 warriors of our allies the 1 lascalans. Our flight
from Mexico was on the 1st of the succeeding month of
July, and the battle of Obtumba on the 4tli of that month.
In Mexico, during our passage of the causeway, on our march,
and in the battle, we lost above 870 soldiers, includuig 72 of
those belonging to Narvaez, and five Spanish women, who
were put to death at a place called Tustepeque. Upwards of
1200
. I
190
Von^tt t^ Mexico part ii. book ii.
1300 of our Tl«K«lnn oUiet were alio killetli ai wore Junri
(te Akantiura ond two more who lind been lent from Chero-
noiUk for the Uuure of the Bold aMimiod to the mrriion of
ViUa Rioti who were roDoed and murdered. iJpon the
whole« all who were concerned in the treasure camo to bad
fortune i and thun a much oreoter proportion of the loldion of
Narvau perished in the flight from Mexico than of our vete*
ram, an they had avMriciouaiy loaded themteivet with gold on
that uiUiappy night '*.
Section XI.
(kmrrtnen/t'om Ike Battle (ffOtumba tilt the march qfCortea
to besiege Mexico,
Immkoiatcly after the victory, wo resumed our ninrcli for
TIatcala, cheered by our tuccotii, and lubHitted on u l(ind of
gourda, called ayotest which we found in the countr}' through
which we paueil. We hnltetl tor the night in a atrong tem-
plet being occaiionally alarmed by detached pni'ticH of the
Mexican!, who still kept hovering about ui, as if determined
to see us out of their country. From this pinect we were re-
joiced at seeiM the mountains of Tlascala, being anxious to
Hsotrtain the mielity of these allies, and to hear news from
our friends at Villa Kica. Cortes warneil us to lie exceed-
ingly cautious of giving any oflenco to the Tlascalnns, and
particularly enforced this advii^ on the soldiers of Narvaez,
who were less accustomed to discipline. Mc said that he
hoped to find our allies steady in their attachment { but if
they should have changed in consequence of our mistortunes,
although we were now only 440 strong, all wounded and ill
armed, we still possessed vigorous bodies and firm minds to
carry us through, if necessary, to the const. \Vc now arriv-
ed at a fountain on the side of a liill, where we came to a
rampart built in ancient times as a boundary between the
state of TIascala and the dominions of Mexico. Wo halted
here,
It Cortes entered Mexico with above ISOO men* ami there were there
under AWando about 75. Of these above 870 were slain, down to the cloie
of the battle of Otuntba i w that about 500 uUl rematneil under the com>
maud of Cortes. Diax reckoiu only 440 ; but thest: werr probably exdusivQ
ef MKh as were entirely disabled from service by their wounds, ȣ.
CHAP. V. 8F.cr. xr. hy Hernando Corta.
181
here, and then proceeded to » town called Oualiopar, or
Huijotlipon, where we halted one doyi and procurttl Mini«
food for which wo were oblimd to pay. Immediately uii our
arrival being onnounced at Tlaitculii, our friends Muxicatxin*
XicotencatC Chichiinccatl, the chief of Huexatcinco, and
othcrv, came to wait upon Cortet, whom thc^ embraced, vet
kindly blamed him for having neglected their udvice to diii-
truit the trcochery of the Mexicans. They wept ibr the
losfcii wo had Huataincd, yet rejoiced at our CNca|ie, and prais-
ed our valiant action* { asHuring uh that they were aaHcmbliiig
90,000 of their warriors to have joined us at Obtumba.
They were r<^oiccd to see Donna Murinu and Donna Luisa^
and lamcntoU the loss of the other ladies. Mnxicatxin in par-
ticular bewailed the fate which liad befallen his daugliter
and Velasquez do Leon, to whom he had given her. They
invited us to their city, where we were kindly received, and
where we reposed in peace and safety after our many ^d se-
vere hardships. Cortes lodged in the house of Moxicat^in,
Alvarado in that of Xicotencatl, and the other officers were
distributed among the houses of the nobles, all the soldiers,
being likewise supplied With comfortable quarters and abun-
dant tbod. Here in the midst of our friends, we recovered
from our wounds and fatigues, all except four who died.
Soon after our arrival, Cortes made inouiry after certain
irold to the value of 40,000 crowns, the snare belonging to
Uie garrison of Villa llica, which had been sent here from
Mexico } and was informed by the Tiascalan chiefs, and by
a Spanish invalid loll here when on our march to Mexico,
that the persons who had been sent for it from Villa Rica
had been robbed and murdered on the road, at the time we
were enframed in hostilities with the Mexicans. Letters were
sent to Vilm Rica, giving an account of all the disastrous events
which had befallen us, and desiring an immediate supply of
all the arras and ammunition that could be spared, aiul to
send us a strong reinforcement. By the return of the mes-
sengers, we were informed that all was well at Villa Rica and
the neitfhbourhood, and that the reinforcement should be im-
mediately sent. It accordingly arrived soon after, consisting
in all o{ seven men, three of whom were sailors, and all of them
were invalids. They were commanded by a soldier named
Lcnccro, who afterwards kept an inn still known by his name ;
and for a long while afterwards, a Lencero rein/orcement was
a proverbial saying among us. We were involved in some
trouble
u
189
Conquest of Mexico part ti. book ii.
troubTc by the younffer Xicotencatl, who had commanded the
Tlascaian army agamst us on our first arrival in their country..
This ambitious chieftain, anxious to be revenffed upon us for
the disgrace he had formerly sustained, on hearing of our
> misfortunes and our intended march to TIascala, conceived
a project tor surprising us on our inarch and putting* us all
to death. For this purpose, he assembled many of nis rela-
tions, friends, and adherents, to whom lie shewed how easily
we might all be destroyed, and was very active in forming a
party and collecting an army for this purpose. Although se-
verely reproached by his father for tliis treacherous design,
be persevered in his plan ; but the intrigue was discovered
by ChichimccatI, his determined enemy, who immediately
communicated the intelligence to the council of Tlascala, be-
fore whom Xicotencatl was brought prisoner to answer for his
treacherous intentions. Maxicatzin made a long speech in
our favour, representing the prosperity which their state had
enjoyed ever since our arrival, by freemg them from the de-
predations of their Mexican enemies, and enabling them to
procure salt from which they had been long debarred. Jde
then reprobated the proposed treachery of the younger Xico-
tencatl, against men who certainly were those concerning
whom the prophecy had been handed down by their ances-
tors. In reply to this, and to a discourse from his father to
the same purpose, the young man usetl such violent and dis*
rehpectf'ul language, that he was seized and thrown down the
steps of the council-hnll into the street, with such violence
that he narrowly escaped with his life. Such was Uie faithful
conduct of our Tlascalau allies, and Cortes did not think it
prudent to push the matter any farther in our present ticklish
situation.
Afler remaining twenty-two days in Tlascala, Cortes re-
solvetl upon attacking the adjoining provinces of Tepejacac
and Ziicatula, on account of some murders the inhabitant
of these districts had committe<l on the Spaniards { but the
soldiers of Narvaez were decidedly averae from entering in-?
to any new war, as the slaughter of Mexico and the battle
of Ohtumba made them anxious to renounce Cortes and his
cuixjuests, and to return as soon as [ ossible to their houses
and niines in Cuba. Beyond all the rest, Andres Duero
was heartily sick of his junction with Cortes, regretting the
gold he hud been forced to leave in the ditches of Mexico.
These men, finding that words were of no avail to persuade
Cortes
■ ' 'J
lOOK II*
aedthe
;ountry.
n us for
of our
mceived
r us all
Ilia rela-
)w easily
rming a
ough se-
\ design,
iscovered
nediately
icala, be-
er for his
speech in
fetate had
n the de-
them to
red. He
iger Xico-
uncerning
Ejir ances-
» father to
t and dis-
dovn the
I violence
le faithful
)t think it
nt ticklish
Cortes re-
Tepejacac
inhabitant
J but the
ktering in^
the batUe
tes and his
eir houses
res Duero
retting the
it' Mexico.
persuade
Cortes
CHAT, T. SECT. XI. by Hertumdo Coiies.
123
Cortes to relinquish his plans of conquest, made a formal re<>
monstrance in writing, stating the insufficiency of our force,
an4 demanding leave to return to Cuba. Cortes urged eve-
ry reason he could think of to induce them to concur in h;s
schemes { and we who were his own soldiers, requested him
on no account to permit any one to depart, nut that all
should remain to serve the cause of God and the king. The
malcontents were forced reluctantly to acquiesce, murmuring
against Cortes and his expeditions, and us who supported
him, who, they said, had nothing but our lives to lose '.
We now, therefore, set out on an expedition to chastise these
districts, without artillery or fire-arms of any kind, all of
which had been lefl in the Mexican canals. Our force con-
sisted of 1 6 cavalry, 424 of our own infantry, mostly armed
with swords and targets, and about 4000 Tlascalans. We
halted at about threeleagues from Tepejacac, but the inha-
bitants had deserted their houses on uur approach. Having
got some prisoners during the march, Cortes sent them to
the chiefs with a message, intimating that he came to de-
mand justice for the murder of eighteen Spaniards in their
territories, and for their admitting Mexican troops into their
country ; and threatening them with fire and sword if they
did not immediately submit to his authority. By our mes-
sengers and two Mexicans, they sent buck a message, order-
ing us to return immediately, or they would put us all to
death, and feast upon our bodies. Upon this it was deter-
mined in a council of the officers, that a full statement of
all that had passed, should be drawn up by a royal notary,
denouncing slavery on the ■ Mexicans or their allies who
had killed any Spanish subjects, after having submitted to
the authority of the king. When this was drawn up and
authenticated, we sent once more to require their submission,
giving notice of the inevitable consequences of their disobe-
dience. But they returned an answer like the former. Both
sides being prepared for battle, we came to action with them
next day ; and as the enemy were drawn up in open fields
of maize, our cavalry soon put the enemy to flight with con-
siderable loss, though they made an obstinate resistance. In
this battle our TIabcalan allies fought bravely ; and, in the
pursuit, we took a good many prisoners, all of whom were
made slaves of. After this victory, the natives sued for
, peace,
1 A long digression ii here omitted, in which Diaz severely reprehends
the account given by Gomara of this and other transactions in his history of
the conquest of Mexico, ahogether uninteresting to the English reader.— E.
■' ^
\A
lU
Conquest of Mexico pabt ii. book ii.
peace, and we inarched to the town of Tepejacac to receive
their submission ; and finding it an eligible situation, being
in a fertile district, and on Uie road to Villa Rica, Cortes
founded a colony in the place, naming it Segura de la Fron-
tera. Municipal officers were appointed, and a branding-
iron for marking those natives who were taken and reduced
to shivery. We made excursions from this place through the
surrounding district, and to the towns of Cachula, Tecame-
chalco, Guayavas, and some others, taking many prisoners,
who were immediately branded for slaves ; and m about six
weeks we reduced the people to order and obedience.
At this time Cortes was informed from Villa Rica, that a
vessel had arrived there commanded by Pedro Barba, his in-
timate friend, who had been lieutenant to Velasquez at the
Havanna, and had now brought over thirteen soldiei-s and
two horses ; as also letters from Velasquez to Nai'vacz, or-
dering to send Cortes, if alive, to Cuba, that he niiaht be
sent to Castile, such being the orders of the bishop ut Bur-
gos. On the arrival of Barba in the harbour, the admi*.
ral appointed by Cortei went on board in a boat well armed,
but with the arms concealed. When : board, the admiral
saluted Barba, inquiring afler the health of Velasquez, and
the others inquired for Narvaez, and what had become of
Cortes. They were told that Narvaez was in jpossession of
the country, ahd had acquired great riches, while Cortes was
a fugitive, wandering about with only twenty followers.
They then invited Barba and the rest on shore ; but the mo-
ment they entered the boats, they were ordered to surrender
themselves prisoners to Cortes. The ship was dismantled,
and the captain and crew, together with Barba and his pen,
sent up to us at Tepejacac, to our great satisfaction ; for
diough we did not now suffer much in the field, we were ve-
3^ unhealthy from continual futiguci five of our men having
ied of pleurisies of late. Francisco Lopez, aftei'wards re-
fidor of Guatimala, came along with this party. Barba was
indly received by Cortes, whom he informed that another
small vessel might be expected with provisions in about a
week. It came accordingly, having on board Roderigo de
Lobera, with eight soldiers and a norse. These were cir-
cumvented like the others, and sent up to us, by which we
were much pleased to procure an accession to our small
force.
About this period, Cuitlahuitzin, who had been elected
sovereign of Mexico in place of his brother Montezuma,
■ ■" ,, , .; died
%
tOK 11<
recdve
.being
Cortes
[ From-
inding-
•cduceu
iigh the
i'ecame-
isoncrs,
jout six
I) that a
I, bib in-
jz at tlie
Iters and
iracz, or-
[iiigbt be
, ot Bur-
he adnii-
>U armed,
le admiral
quez, and
|)ecome of
session ot
;ortes was
followers.
at the mo-
surrender
ismanlled*
his men,
;tion ; for
_ were ve-
|en having
[•wards re-
jarba was
it another
[n about a
lerigo de
were cir-
which we
our sinaU
en elected
iontezuma,
died
CHAP. V. SECT. 3ti. tnf HerHando Cortes,
tiS
died of the small-pox, and Quauhtemotzin, or Gautimotzin»
was chosen in his stcnd, a young man of twenty-five yean
of age, of fine appearance, excceaingly brave, and so terrible
to his subjects that every one tremb^ at his sight. On re-
ceiving notice of the reduction of Tepejacac, he became ap-j i
prehensive of losing his other provinces, yet neglected no
precautions to preserve the chiefs in their obedience, and sent
considerable bodies of troops to the provinces nearest to
where we were, to watch our motions. But these Mexican
ttxwps injured the cause they were sent to support, becoming
very disorderly, plundering and maltreating the people whom
they were sent to defend, or to keep under subjection. Pro-
voked by these injuries, the ruling people of these provinces
deputed four chiefs to negocinte with Cortes, offering to sub-
mit to him, provided he would expel the Mexicans. Cortes
immediatdv acceded to this proposal, and detached all the
cavalry and crossbow-men of our army under De Oli, with
as many of our other infantry ns made up a force of 300
men, to which a considerable number of Tlascaian allies
were joined. While our people were on their march, they
received such formidable accounts of the number and force
of the enemy, as entirely deprived the soldiers of Narvaez Oi
all inclination for military expeditions. They mutinied, and
told De CMi that, if he were determined to persevere, he
might go alone, for they were resolved to quit him. De Oli
remonstrated with them in vain, though supported by all the
old soldiers of Cortes, and was compclled to holt at Cholula,
whence he sent word to Cortes of his situation. Cortes re-
turned an angry answer, ordering him to advance at all events.
De Oli was now in a violent rage at those who had occasion-
ed this reprimand from the general, and ordered the whole
to march immediately, declaring he would send back all who
hesitated, to be treated by Cortes as their cowardice deserv-
ed. On his arrival within a Icagtie of Guacacualco, he was
met by some of the native chiefs, who infoimcd him how he
might best come upon the enemy. He accordingly marched
against the Mexican forces, whom he completely defeated
and put to flight, after a sharp action, in which eight of our
m«i were wounded, and two horses killed. Our allies made
a great slaughter of the Mexicans during the purauit. The
Mexicans fell back to a large town called Ozucar, where they
joinetl andthei' great body of their countrymen, who forti-
fietl themselves in that post, and broke down the bridges.
De Oli pursued with as many of his troops as could keep up
with
'■\-
\ 4
! >l
?i
136
Conquest ofMexko part ii. book ii.
■||
^
^[^
with him ; and having passed the river by the assistance of
his friends of Guacacuolco, he again attacked the Mexicans,
whom he again defeated and dispersed, losing two more of
his horses. He received two wounds himself on this occa-
sion, and his horse was wounded in several places. He halt-
ed two days after his double victory, receiving the submission
of all the neighbouring chiefs, after which he returned with
his troops to Segura de la Frontera. De Oli was received
with applause by Cortes and all of us ; and when we laugh-
ed at him for the b^tation of his men, he joined with us
heartily, saying he would take the poor soldiers of Cortes on
the next expedition, and not the rich planters who came with
Narvaez, who thought more of their houbes and estates than
of military glory, and were more ready to command than
to obey.
Cortes now got information from Villa Rica of the aiTival
of a ship commanded by one Comargo, havinff upwards of
seventy soldiers on board, all very sickly. This vessel had
belonged to an expedition sent from Jamaica by Garray to
establish a colony at Panuco; the other captain, Pineda,
and all his soldiers, having been put to death by the natives,
and their ship burnt. On fiiiding^ therefore, the ill success
of that adventure, and that his men were afflicted witli dis-
eases of the liver from the unhealthy nature of the country,
Camargo had come to Villa Rica for assistance. He is said
to have been perfectly acquainted with the state of affairs in
New Spain ; and, on his arrival at Villa Rica, he immediate-
ly disembarked his soldiers, and went to Segura de la Fron-
tera by slow marches, where he and his men were received
with tne utmost kindness by Cortes, and every possible care
was bestowed for his and their recovery ; but he and several
of his soldiers soon died. By reason of their swollen bodies
and discoloured countenances, we used to call these men the
green paunehcs. That I may not interrupt the thread of my
narrative, 1 shall mention m this place, that all the rest of
this aruiiimcnt which was destined for Panuco, arrived at
our port of Villa Rica at different and irregular periods,
Garray continually sending us reinforcements, which he
meant for Panuco, as he believed bis intended colony at that
place was going on successfully. Tlie first of these reinforce-
ments after Camargo consisted of fifly soldiers with seven
horses, under the command of Michael Diaz de Auz. These
men were all plump and jolly, and we gave them the nick-
Kif^'ifim-
11
.' T^pf^
:n.
- »irf-*.*^-.-.*P-»S?^,}Wit- +■
name
»0K II*
nee of
deans,
lore of
\ oeea-
[e haltr
nusuon
ed with
received
, laugh-
with us
lortes on
ime with
ites than
knd than
ie arrival
>ward8 of
ressel had
jarray to
, Pineda*
le natives,
ill success
witli dis-
e country,
le is said
affairs in
mmediate-
j la Fron-
e received
>ssii>ie care
uid several
len bodies
je men the
read of Bfty
the rest of
arrived at
it periods,
wnich he
ony at that
; reinforcc-
with seven
iz. These
the nick-
name
<;hap. v. sect. XI. &y Hernando Cortes:
127
name of the Sir-loins. Shortly after him another vessel
brought forty soldiers with ten horses, and a good supply, of
crossbows and other arms. These were commanded by an
officer named Ramirez, and as all his soldiers wore very tniek
and clumsy cotton armour, quite impenetrable by arrows, we
called them the Pack-horses.
Being thus unexpectedly reinforced by upwards of an hun-
dred and fifty men, and twenty horses, Cortes determined to
chastise the Indians of Xalatcingo, Cacatame, and other
towns near the road to Villa Rica, who had been concerned
in the murder of those Spaniards who had been sent from
Villa Rica for the treasure. For this purpose he sent a de-
tachment of two hundred veterans, among whom were twen-
ty horsemen, and twelve armed with crossbows, under the
command of Sandoval, who had likewise along with him a
strong detachment of TIascalans. Being informed that the
Indians of that district were in arms, and reinforced by
Mexican troops, Sandoval sent a message, offering pardon
for the murder of the Spaniards, if they would submit to
our government, and return the treasurct Their answer
was, that they would eat him and all his men, as they had
done the others. Sandoval, therefore, immediately inarched
into their country, and attacked them in two places at once,
and though both the natives and the Mexicans defended
themselves with great bravery, they were soon defeated with
considerable loss. On going into some of their temples af-
ter the victory, our people found Spanish cloths, arms, sad-
dles, and bridles, hung up as o£Perings to their gods. The
inhabitants of this district submitted themselves to his majes-
ties government, but were unable to return the treasure, as
it had been sent to Mexico. Sandoval remained three days
in this district receiving the submission of the inhabitants,
whom he referred to Cortes for their pardon, and then re-
turned to head-quarters, carrying a number of women and
boys along with him, who were all branded as slaves. 1
was not on this expedition, being ill of a fever, attended
with a vomiting of blood ; but, bemg bled plentifully, I re-
covered by the blessing of God. In pursuance of orders
from Sandoval, the chiefs of these tribes and of many others
in the neighbourhood, came to Cortes and submitted them-
selves to his authority. Sandoval was sent in the next place
to chastise the inhabitants of a district called Xocotlan, who
had murdered nine Spaniards, having with him an hundred
infantry
i;
.■'.-
■ ■•^''^^*f ^'*'!^?S"f*?'^*^ *
H^s
Conquest (^Mexico I^art ii. book ii.
.("'i
^1
infantry, thirty cavalry, and a strong body of Tlascalans.
On entering the district, he summoned the people to submis-
sion under the usual threats ; but, as they had a considerable
body of Mexican forces to aid them, they returned for an-
swer, that they would acknowledge no other government
than that of Mexico. Sandoval, therefore, put his troops
in motion, cautioning the allies not to advance to the attack
till the enemy were broken by our troops, and then to fall
upon the Mexicans especially. Two large bodies of the ene-
my were found posted in strong and rocky ground, very dif-
ficult for our cavalry, insomuch, that before Sandoval could
drive them from this post, one of his horses was killed, and
nine w^ounded, as likewise were four of his soldiers. They
were at length driven from tliis post into the town of Xocbt-
lan, where they took post in the temple^j and some large wal-
led courts J but were dislodged from these and put to flight
with great slaughter, our Tlascalan allies giving good assist-
ance, as they were incited by the hopes of abundant plun-
der. Sandoval halted two days in this place, to receive the
submission of the chiefs, who begged pardon for what had
passed, promising future obedience, and to supply us plenti-
fully with provisions. On being ordered to restore the ef-
fects of the Spaniards whom they had slain, they replied that
every thing of that kind had been burnt. They said, like-
wise that most of the Spaniards whom they haa slain were
tfaten by them, except five, whom they sent to Guatimot-
tvn *.
These expeditions wore productive of the best effects, as
they extended the fame of Cortes and the Spaniards through
the whole country for valour and clemency ; and our general
became more dreaded and respected than Guatimotzm, the
new sovereign of Mexico, insomuch that his authority was
resorted to on all occasions of importance. The smaJl-pox
at this time committed dreadful ravages in New Spain, cut-
ting off vast numbers of the natives, and among the rest,
many of the chiefs and princes of the country became vic-
tims to this dreadful calamity. On these occasions, the clai-
mants for sc :cession to the vacant chiefships resorted to Cor-
tes, as sovereign of the country, for his decision, which they
uniformly
9 Clavigero, II. 133, mentions about this time an expedition against
Tochtepec, a csnsiderable town on the river of Papaloapan^ m which Salcedo
and a detachment of so Spr.nianU were entirely cut oiT,— £.
<l^i,?,Wffr.if, ki^fgrn^iH^C^lrt^
m
ilpilQrmly wlwvitt^ to* Among U»e r«»t, tl^ IprtMu^ 9f -
Q\\9C9gmkQ w4 OiM^wr keq^ v«cu^ ««4 % y^npjui
d^iroaqtfi f ptuait^d tlu^ir cMiips f^ the deci3ipn <^ Cort^^
Whot^ fister )Mui Ifew ^il^nri^ to 0u» fonder i^iqjUf ^f |t|f,.
All ^p cQuntry wo^pd TlascaJn fiul tp th« eogtwur^^ l?piiiff .
90lf r9(iMce4 tp s^pl^iaptiojn, W order ww ^u^d tp b^n^ aQ^.
^ prifipners tp a)i(jrge bou«e in the tpvm pf JS^mr^* VMt VM>
$^ \Kt\o9g\}^ (o tbe king aqd Cpftips miglitltf d^upteq^
^ild tii9 rent divided wuong the txoapa. The pfjapo^s iaqx^'
s)#t$4 of women, ^ys, apojP'^i'^i ^ 4^ mep wc«e Couq^ ipQ
difficult Uf He<^i 4|id our iVcalaQ firiefids perfo^nned evei^
«WV)pe fi>r US tA9^ we coiild defire, such as qmving |(^r h^g-
fl«ge, ammunitipii, ^d provjsionsi ap4 ^1 otoe|r drud^^*
Tl|i^ prvpn^v were qpofin^ fill night, aod tl^e r^ar^^n
tP(4c pJlAW i?ext morning. )p tlte first pl9<pe thjB Ippg*^ 4^
va? 8»t Asjd?, w4 ^heq thi^f which beloogfed Jo Cprt^ j ^?*;
whon ^ 8li9re# pf the soldiers came to ^ ^i^triliuted^ ttierfi
r9ni»iqf^ 4inly » parcel of old iijij^erable jM?l». 1^4 it V^
CoiMlid (bat some person biid Ixeim in tb^dqptpjt 4^ing (bie n}|^
who b»4 |a|cei?i away all the young and handiaqn^ ^^W^
Tbis pccasionsd w»cb clw»pur wun^thie Ap)dieira, wb^ fK^
fiusied CJortfli pf inju9tice, wd the ?pldiers pf If^rvaez WPfje
Qp siDcb i^ing bad ever be^ beard pf in tl^e Spanisl^ den
minipnf 4s two jlpngs and two 0h^. Onp Ja^n de Qu^9
w§» yeiy Ipud in bis cpn^lajnts op tbjs pccasipn; deckn^
tbat he would jmM» it kpown in i^>ain bp,w v? bad b«w
gbused ^y Cprfei, wore e^pfSpl^Uy i^ regv^ <P ,tbe goM f^
J4e](iRP, wbere onJy Ithe vaJue pf 300,Q0Q prpiims P7pear«|^
0t the division, whereas 700,000 croons wod^ i|vere prpdiir
iced at tb? tja;te pf our ^igbjU Mmy pf the so^iers )pu41f
cpiqpbiiffed pf having tb^ir W/Oinen t9)f;en fiioi;^ theniy fUl»[
4ipy bfd giy^ tb9m clothes fi94 pmwenftJ. ^ylng tbey bfd
<pnly e;«peiictpd jto have paid tbi? ^fib Pf their vfdue^ to ij^
JMUg, and then that t^iwouli have gpt l^k hifi owp. tCp^*
(teo prpi^pti^ that better r?gnl»tiopf Ahpji^ be f|4pp^e4 in
feture, ftud gpt the i^f^ir bwbed vp w^H pnj^jt^t wpw »P^
fair prpmiscif j yet b? won n^teqapt^d PV*n Wf^f^e thpn t]bif .
Jt*wy b* rsi^fli^bered, tb^tf m ^ fatol n#ut pf our r^^
fyfm M^fm* »U jtb? trewur/e,vw prodnqid^ w4 pvery sol-
dier WW gllpwfld Jto t^)^ as mvcb fi^ ne pl^aied* ,0n th»» P?-
is^ipli, many of the soldiers of Naryaez, and some of our own,
VOL, IV, I loaded
*■
ISO
Conquett of Mexico pabt ii. book ii.
loaded dkemselTet with gold. Cortes now learned that a
quanti^ of gold in burs was in circulation among tha
troops at La Trontera, who were inuch engaged in deep
play, and forgot the old adage, that riches and amours
shoidd be concealed. He now issued an order for aU
the gold to be delivered withlp a given time, undoi
severe penalties for disobedience, and promised to return
back a third part to all who delivered their gold, but
that all should be forfeited in case of failure or evasion.
Many of the soldiers refused obedience to this arbitrary
order, and from some Cortes took their gold by way of loon,
yiet rather by force than with their consent. Many of our
detains, and those who had civil ofiices in the colony, were
ixMuessed of gold, and at length Cortes was glad to quash
the order and say no more about the matter.
The ofBcers who had come with Narvaez thought the pre*
seat interval of tranquillity was a &vourable opportunity to
renew their solicitations for leave to return to Cuba, to which
Cortes at length consented, and gave them one of the best
ships in the harbour, which was victualled with salted doffs,
fo\NS| maize, and other provisions of the country. By this ship^
Cortes sent letters to his wife Donna Catalina and her brother
JuanSiiarez, giving; them an account of ali that had happened
in New l^uun, and sent them some bars of gold and Madcan
curiosities. The following were among the persons who now
returned to Cuba, havingtheir pockets well lined after all ouC
disasters. Andres de Duero, Augustin Bermudez, Juan
Buono, Bernardino de Quesada, Francisco Velasquez, Oon>
palo Carrasco, who afterwards returned to New Sbain, and
fives now in La Puebla, Mclchior Velasquez, one Ximenes,
who now lives in Guaxaca, and went over at this time for
his soiis, the commendator Leon de CiTvantes, who went
to bring over his daughters, who were very honourabhr mar-
ried after the ponqfiest of Mexico ; one Maldonado of Mede>
lin, ah invalid, a person named Vargas, and Cardinas t'be
pilot, he who talked about the two kings, to whom Cortes
cave the three hundred crowns he had formerly promised for
his wife and daughters. We remonstrated with Cortes for al-
lowing so many persons to quit the army, considering how
weak we were already, on which he observed, that he did ft
partly to get rid of their importunities, and partly because
they were unfit for war, and it was better to have a few good
f^r . soldiery
Lll.*
CHAP. V. 81CT. XI. ^ Hernando Cartel*
191
at a
tlM
deep
lourt
r dl
inda
eturn
, but
asion.
Mtrary
rioan,
of our
, vere
I quash
mityto
> wnich
ihebest
sd do|S!(
his 6hip»
brother
appened
!Aexican
vho now
stall out
>z, Juaii
z, Gon-
»ain} and
umenee»
time for
jho went
[bly mar-
>fMed«>.
linas tbe
Cortea
_««ed for
tea for al-
Iring bow
■he did it
y because
few good
soldiery
soldiers than many bad ones. Alvarado was sent to ..
these men safely snipped off, and he sent at this time Dicjgor
de Ordas and Alonzo da Mendoza to Spain, with instruo
tions of which we were ignorant, except that they werp meant
to counteract the malice of the bishop of Burgos, who had
declared us all traitors. De Ordas executed his commissimi
to good purpose, and got the order of St Jago for hhnselfy
ana the volcano of Pc^Mtcatepetl added to his arms. Cortes
sent also Alonzo de Avila, conlador of New fi^n, and
Francisco Alvarez, to Hiapaniola, to make a report to the
court of royal audience, and the brothers of the order df
Jeronymites, of all that had taken place, particularly in regard
to Narvaez, and supplicating them to represent our faiUifid
services to Uie emperor, and to support ouir interests against
tbe enmity and misrepresentations of Velasquez and the
bishqi of Burgos. He sent' likewise De Solis to Junaica to
purchase .hones. It may be asked how Cortes was able to
send ' agents to Spain, Hi^niols, and Jamaica, without
monev. But, although n^any of our soldiers were slain in
our flight from Mexico, and much treasure lost in the ditdies
end canals of Mexico, yet a consideraUe quantity of gold was
saved,- as the eighw loaded Tlascalans were among the;flt«t
who passed the bridge, and afterwards delivered all their
gdd to Cortes ^ But we poor soldiers had enough ado ito
preserve our lives^ all badly wounded, and did not trouble
oursdves to inqnire what became of the gold, or how much
was brought off. It was even rumoured among us, that! the
share befenging to the garrison of Villa Bica,uie Carriers of
which had been robbed and murdered, wentafler all to %>un,
Jamaica, and other places; but as Cortes lined thepoSckets
of our captains with plenty of gold, all inquiry on this head
was stopped.
- It may be wondered how Cortes 8houU''^(l away so va^
liant a c^tain as AJonzo de Avila on anaf&ir.of negociation,
when he had several men of business in his amrv who could
have been better spared, sudi as Alonzo de Oradu, Juan
Carceres the rieA, and several others. The true reason was,
'•>■■- •••i.j Hi ,f."».ii- > .--i ii*.'.n,ji •.)•>. (J t*U'li>'?lO r ' ■•. tUt
wv8 Thu mutt bay« been s very considerable treuure. On one ee-
cuion, Clavigero reckona a load of gold at ROO ounces. Tbe eighty Tlaa-
caljuis might therefore carry off 64,000 ounces, which at L. 4 the ounce, is
worth L. 256,000 Sterling, and of considerably more ielbcadons vahic m those
da^ than % ipillion is now'-^fi.
iiir«r , . - ., ... ,-,
^,1'
*:
ISS
GsMfMMl ^Mesko pim u. jaook li.
I*.>;
:■>*
llut Avfla WM too ntdT tto spcdc out on all occanoiift to ob*
IMD jiuljoe Sat the Mudien, and thcrdbre Cortes MOt him
awi^ that be might no kMager be oppoied and thwarted
IB hia prooeedingi; and that he micht give hu company to
tkJoAm da Tapb, and his office <» contador to Annzo de
Gvado.
, Haring now determined to undertake the sic^ of Mexioo*
Gntes Im a garrison of twenty men, mostly sick and inv»<
lids in Frontera, mider the command of Jnande Orozoo,
and marched with the rest of the amqr into the country of
TTlaseaia, where he gave orders to cot down f quantity of
timber, with which to constnid; a number of Tewels to cam<m
mand the lake of Mexico. These ships were to be built
under the direction of Martin Lopez, an eaeeUent ship^
wddtt, and a valiant soldier, in which he was assisted bv
AnLs Nunea, and old Bamiiea. who was lame A«n a wouJ.
liopez eondncted matters with great qairit, insonnch that ii|
ft very short time he had all the timber ent down, sh^ied, and
marked out for the vessels, ready to be put tcoether. The
iron inork, anohon, cables, sails, cordage, and aU oUmr ne«
cessariea lor the vessels were procured from Villa Riea, alienee
idl tiw onilhs were sent «^ to the army to^ve their assist*
anoe. As pitch was unknown amona the natives, four sailors
mtet^ sent to the pine foiests pf Huelzotzinoo* to obtaina
#sjpply of that article, in which tftey succeeded.
: On oar arrival at Tlascala, we learnt that om: good friend
«iid>ftitfifui ally Maxicatain had fidlen a aacrifioe to theimaU-
ipox. Cortes lamented die death of this good man as tfatt
of a father, and put On mourning out of vespect to his m».
WKe/pr<t in which he was imitated fay many of oar officers and
aoiners. As there was some Ataaaitf m v^iaid totha sue*
cession, Cortes conferred tlie vacant d^inity on the Iqntiiaate
eon «f liie disoeasOd chief, as he had doired a short time lie-
4br« his ibeth, on which occasion he had strictly aqoined «0
lus fianiiy and dependents to persevere in their aliiadce with
OS, as we were undoubtedly destined to rule dieir country
according to their ancient traditioin. The other ehisA «if
tht> Tlascalans offered their best services, in providing timber
for our vessels, and engaged to aid us with all their military
ibrde in pdroseouting ik» war against Mexico. Cevtes aecept-
|id their tMex witheverv mark of gratitude and respect; mid
even prevailed on the eldar Xicotenead, one of their principal
caciques, to become a Christian, who was acowdli^ly baptised
with
>K1I*
0 ob»
It him
rtftcd
•nyto
izo d6
[exico»
iinv*'
>rozco,
otryof
ntityof
lo oinn**
M built
i ihip^
istedW
t that ill
JT Th«
itberne*
^whenoK
nrjwiit^
i«btua»
od friend
theAnall-
m as thtt
ohiBm»-
goers and
sthesuo-
CHAT^ f . 8XCT. xr. ijf HertuMdo Cortes*
19S
.tsme9>e-
»ined«B
ice with
with great ceremony, by the name of Don Lorenzo de Var*
gas.
Just as we were about to bemn our march, intelligence
came from Villa Rica of the amval of a vessel from Spain
and the Canaries, loaded with militaiy stores, horses, and
merchandize, and hating thirteen soldiers on board. The
owner, who was likewise on board, was one Juan de Buif^,
but the vessel was commanded by Francisco Medel. C!ortea
sent immediate orders to purchase the whole cugo^ and all
the people came up to join us to our great sati^wtion.
Among these were one Juan del Espinar, afterwards a very
rich man, and two odiers named Sagredo, and MonjaraS
;a Biscayan, who had two nephews of the same name in our
army. Monjaraz never went upon any expedition or enntfa-
ment along with us, always reigning to be sick, thou^ ne
omitted no opportunity to boast of his courage. Once, while
we were besieging Mexico, he went up to the top of a h^
temple, as he said to see how the natives foi'^ht ) and by
some means which we could never find out, 1 e was kiHed
that day by some of Uie Indians, Those who had known
him in Hispaniola, said it wasajustju^ment, for having
procured the death of his wife, a beautiml and honourdbte
w<miah, by means of fidse witnesses.
All the timber for our vessels bdng in readiness, and every
thing prepared for our expedition against Mexico, it was de^
bated in our council of war in what ^jace we should eataUiah
our head-quarters, in order to prepare our measures for in-
vesting that city. Some strongly recommended Ayotdnoo
at most convenient for that purpose, on account of its canus.
Cortes and odiers preferred Tezcuco, as best adapted for mak-
ing ineurnons into the Mexican territory, uid that place waa
accordingly fixed upon. We accordingly began our maroh
from Tiuoala immediately after the junction of our hut rein-
foroement from ViUa Rica, consisting of the aokiiers who
MUie with Medel and De Burgos.
Stcnosr
"■idiS ti'.
.«!>♦;'«
19«
Conquest of Mexico part iu book ii.
Section XII.
Trantactioiis of Cortea and the Spaniards from their March
against Mexico^ to the Commencement of the Siege of that
City,
^'>: Wc began our March from TIascala on the 26th of De-
cember 1520, with the whole of our Spanish force, and ac*
companied by ten thousand of our Tiascalan allies '* and
halted that niffht within the territories of the state of Tez-
cuco, the inhabitants of which place supplied us with provi-
sions. We marched about three leoffues on the 27th, when
we halted at the foot of a ridge of mountains, fincUng the
weather extremely cold. Early next day we beoan to ascend
the mountains, the bad roads having been made more difii-
cult by the enemy, by means of ditches and felled trees,
which were removed by the exertions of our allies. We pro-
ceeded with the utmost order and precaution, having an ad-
vanced guard of musketeers and crossbow-men, and our
allies cleared the way to enable our cavalry to advance. A^
ter passing the summit of the mountain, we enjoyed the fflo-
fious prospect of the vale of Mexico below, with the lakes,
the capital rising out of the waters, and all its numerous
towns and cultivated fields ; and gave thanks to God, who
had enabled us again to behold this astonishing scene of riches
and population, after passing through so many dangers.
We could distinctly perceive numerous signals made by
smoke in all tlie towns towards Mexico ; and a little farther
on, we were resisted by a body of the enemy, who endea-
voured to deiSmd a bad pass at a deep water-run, where the
-wooden bridge had been broken down ; but we sooh drove
« them away, and passed over, as the enemy contented them-
selves with shooting their arrows from a considerable dis-
tance. Our allies pillaged the country as we went along,
which was contrary to the inclination of our general, but he
was unable to restrain them. From some prisoners whom
we had taken at the broken bridge, wc were informed that
1 According to Clavi^ero, II. 1 35( the Spanish force at this time unonnt*
ed to forty cavahry, divided into four troops, and 590 infantry, in nine
companies : But he swells the auxiliary force of the Tlaicalans to 1 10,000
men.— E. - *
OHAF. ▼. 8ICT. XII. hjf HehUttub Corttti
115
a laroe body of the enemv wai potted on our fine of march,
intendjnff to give us battw ) but it appeared afterwards that
they liad separated in consequence of dissentions amon^ the
chiefs, and we soon learnt that a civil war actuidlv eusted
between the Mexicans and the state of Tezcuco. Ine small-
pox alto raged at this time In the country, which had a great
effect in our favour, by preventing the enemy frcmi being
able to assemble their forces.
Next morning we proceeded on our march for Tezcuco,
which was about two leagues firom the place where we had
halted for the night ; but we had not proceeded far, when
one of our patroles brought intelligence that several Indiana
were coming towards us taring signals of peace, and indeed
wc found the whole country through which we marched this
day in perfect tranquillitv. On the arrival of the Indians, we
found them to consist of seven chieft from Tezcuco, sent aa
ambassadors by Coanacotzin, the prince of Tezcuco or Acol-
huacan. A golden banner was carried before them on a
long lance, which was lowered on approaching Girtes, to
whom the ambassadors bowed themselves in tdken of re^^pect.
They then addressed our general in the name of their phnce,
inviting us to his city, and requesting to be received under
our protection. Thev denied having taken any part in the
attacks which we had experienced, earnestly entreating that
no iniury might be done to their city by our allies, and pre-
sented their golden banner to Cortes, in token of peace anu
submission. Three of these ambassadors were known to
most of us, as they were relations of Montezuma, and bad
been captains of his guards, when we were formerly at Meu-
co. The ambassadors were assured by Cortes that he would
use his utmost efibrts to prot^t the country, although they
must well know that above forty Spaniards and two hundred
of our allies had been put to death in passing through their
territories when we retreated firom Mexico. Cortes added,
that certainly no reparation could now be made for the loss
of our men, but he expected they would restore the gold and
other property which had been taken on that occasion.
They asserted that the whole blame of that transaction was
owing to Cuitlahuatzin, the successor of Montezuma, who
had received the spoil and sacrificed the prisoners. Cortet
found that very little satisfaction could be got ^om them for the
past, yet wishing if possible to make them now our friends, he
earn^tly entreated we T^ascalaa chie& to prohibit their war-
}i5? riors
^
I5d
CMjtivf ifMkkko tixt n, book m
J4
ribh ftoitt piO«g{ilg the «iyauti7» and hii wbhes #eH; ilrieUy
cdUM^lted Wfth, eXCMt in MgAird to proTiaioM. Aft»k> thi»
cOtiferttliiite vtn encted^ W6 prMeeded to a viikkn namad Que
atiliehili or Htaekotki at ikBituitt dktanca frna Tezcuooy
wheire W6 halted for the night
l9<SKt ltu)niing» being the 9Ut ]>eMitabclr 1590, we mardi*
ed tftto Teuuco, wh^re neither itroMen or children were t^
be seen, and even the men had a suspidoui appearances iai*
diciiting that tome miichicf wai intended aeunst vs. We
took Up onr aiitaitars in some buildiam whish oonmtMl toi
large nalU ana indoiMd conrti, and oi^rs were inued that
none of the sohJiers Werie to go out of their i|aartnn, and that
iJl Werie to be on the alert to guard i^^st mirpriMk On thw
ebldi^ b^ing tlisinisiicd to their respective ifiiarters, the ti^
tidni Altid^o and De Oli, with some tddicn, among whom
I wai, went up to ^le top of a lofty teinplttk from wnidi we
had a dohittianding view, to observe what was gmng on in
die heijghbourhood. We eould see all the people dveiywhere
in motion, carrying oflPthenr children and cttects to the Wood*
tod the re^y Dorders of the lake, and to great numbers of
6anoe84 Cortte wished to have secured Coanacotcin, who
had Sent US the iHendly embassy, which now appeaired to
have b6en merely a pretekc to gain time i but it was found
that h6 and many of the principal persons of Tefecuco had
Aid to Mexico. We postikl strong guards^ therefor^ in
^vevy direction, and kept Ourselves in constant readindss for
action. Cort^ soon learnt that factions existed in Teecuco^
and that many of the chiefs were adverse to their present
pHnte, and remained in their houses, while those of the qi-
posite faction had withdrawn. Cortes sent for those chiefs
next morning, from whom he learnt^ that they considered
(heir pretent printe, CosnacOtdn, as an usurperv he having
Aurd«red his elder brother, Cuicutccattin, who had been
^acied on th6 throne by Montetnima and Cknrtes, and that
Coanacotkin owed his elevation to the fovotur of Ouatimot)Bn«
the present soirereign ^ M^co. Hiey pointed out a youdi
named Ixtlikochitl as the netful heir or Acolhuacan, who
iNras brought immediately to X!ortes, and installed widiout d«-
lay in the government. Cortes prevailed upon him tobe^
ktittm a Christian, and had him baptised widi great soleninity^
standing godikther on the occasion^ nndgivitig him his own
name, Don Hernando Cortes Ixi^hcoehid ) and to retain
hbn in the Spanish inteteM *nd itt our holy fiuth, he appoint
ted
a^i
tHAti fi tfUSt. XII. hf Merimmh Cortes,
187
ted tbMe Spmiiiinili td attend ujmri hinH EKobVi trho i«M
MAdfe ettptiiin or jov^or bf Ttocnco, Aathonio de ViUa
TUaAi And Pedm iSuushM Farfati. la the next fkiatie, CortM
iraquiml thb new prince of Tcaeuco to wapjplj him with «
Htunber of ktbouren to open up the candw wadmg to the
Sbk^ oA puitKMg to adroit our yeisdg which were to be piA
togech^ lit Texcuco. Me ako informed him of our inten-
tions to besi««e MexicOi for which oponuion the young
prince engaged to give all the assistance in his power. The
work on the canals was conducted with all expeditiont ae
we never had less than seven or eight thousand Indians eat-
plowed *4 Al Guatimottin, the reigning monarch of Mexico^
frequently sent out large bodies of troops in canoes on thfe
lake» appurently with the hope of attackmg us unprepared^
Cortes us<id every military precaution to guard against any
sudden attiick, by assigning proper posts to our several cup-
tains, with orders to to always on the alert. The peof^ ia
Huexotla, ft town and district only a few miles firom Tefc-
cttCo, tho had been goihy of murdering some of our coun-
trymen on ft former occasion, petitioned Cortes for pardon,
and were tnken into fovnur on promise of future fiddity.
Before his elevation to the throne of Mexico, Ouatimotnti
had been prince or cacique of laEti^ak^, the people of
ivhich place were determined enemies to us and our wies '.
We had been now twelve days in Tezcnco, where the pre-
sence of so large a force occasioned some scarcity of provi-
sions, and even our allieii began to grow somewhat impatient
of
• p- '
8 In ths v\ty lAipeiicct maps of Dht and CltvigotH Tefecnco » pIsMd
near the knouth of a rivulei vrhkih ducharget itwelf into the lake of Mexi-
co: In the former, the buildings are represented as extending two miles and
a half along the rivulet, and coming close to the edge of the lake ; but die
toiap of Clavle:«ro has no scale. In the map gtyen by Humboldt, Teecsub
Is placed on a riling ground, near two tnilea from the edge of th« lake.
But the lake has since the time of Cvrtes been much diminished in extent
by St grand drain, insomuch that Mexico, formerly insulated, is now a mile
and a half from the lake. — ^E.
i On this o<tcasioil Diaz mentions the inhabitanti of Chaleo, Tlafahtihtt.
ce, Miedntaeta, *Hd CMmatoadui, as the alliM Of thtt Spaniards; b« thele
ttttes do not i|)pelu- to have submitted to the Splmiarda till afterwards.
Ctttes employed the interval, from his arrival at Tezcuco in the end nf
December i5S0, to the investment of Mexico, at the end of May i jSl,
five mbnths, in detaching a great tiutnbef tj( the nadve statM 6*010 dtdr
^kpendence li^n MiEfx!co.-^E.
..^
Hj.«™v^ *■■, ;"inr* 5^ ^ fV
,-»iW»ywfr.»"
m
n- .''1
t>
f
\i
^
*«.
1S6
tkniqtieH ^Mlutko vKtn ii. booh ii.
I
of oui* intfdiVity.' From all these comiderations, Comtn de*
termined upon an expedition to Ixtapaiapa, a^inat which place
he marahed at the head of 13 cavalry %^0 infantry, ana th6
whole of our Tlascalan alHei. The mhabt^Ants had received
a reinforcement of 8000 Mexican warriora, yet they fell back
into the town on our approach, and even fled into their
canoes and the houses which stood in tho; water, allowing us
to occupy that part of the town which stood on the firm land.
As it was now night, we took up our quarters for the night
and posted our guards, unaware of a stratagem which ntul
been plaimed for our destruction. On a sudden there came
•o great a bod^ of water into the streets and houses, that we
liad been all mfoUtbly drowned if our friends from Tezcuco
Jiad not given us instant notice of our danger. The enemy had
cat the banks of the canals, and a causeway also, by which
jneans the place was laid aknost instantly undjcr water. We
ascapcd with some difficultv, two only of our allies being
-drowned { but all our powder was destroyed, ai)d we passed
a very uncomfortable night, without food, and aU wet and
verv cold ; and were very much provoked at the laughter
and taunts of the Mexicans from the kike. At daybreak,
large bodies of Indians crossed over from Mexico and attack-
ed us with such violence, that they killed two of our soldiers
■and one horse, and wounded many of us, and were repelled
with much difficulty. Our allies also suffered considerable
kMs on this occasion \ but the enemy were at last repulsed,
and we returned to Tezcuco very little satisfieil with the fame
or profit of this fruitier expedition. Two days after our
retreat from Iztapalapa, the inhabitants of these neighbouring
districts, Tepetezcuco, ObtUmba or Otompan, and some
others in that quarter, sent to solicit pardon ror the hostilities
they had formerly committed against us, alleging in excuse
that they had acted by the orders of their sovereign Cuitla-
liuatzin, the immediate successor of Montezuma. Cortes,
knowing that he was not in a situation to chastise them,
ffranted them pardon on prontise of future obedience. The
inhabitants also of a place which we named Venezuela, Or
Little Venice, because Duilt in the water, who had been always
at variance with the Mexicans, now solicited our alliance, and
engaged to bring over their neighbours to our party. This
circumstance was of much importance to our views, from
the situation of that place on the lake facilitating our future
(^rations, especially those of our naval force.
We
«*
CHAP. ▼. SECT. XII. by Hernando Cortes.
199
■ We aoon afterwards received inteUigenoe,^ iUat laroe bodies
of Mexican troops had attacked the districts Which were in
alliance with us, by which the inhabitants were compelled to
fly into the woods for shelter, or to take refuge in our quar-
ters. Cortes went out with twenty of our cavalry and two
hundred infantry, having Alvarado and De Oli along with
him, to drive in the Mexicans. The real cause of contention
on the present occasion was conceminff the crop <^ maize
'-nrowing on the l)orders of the lake, i^ich was now fit to
reap, and from which the natives had been in use to supply
our wants, whereas it was claimed by the Me:dcans, as b^
longing to the priests of their city. Cortes desired the natives
to inform him when they proposed to rut down this cOm, and
sent upwards of a hundred of our men and a large body cf
our alues to protect the reapers. I was twice on that duty,
And on one of these occasions, the Mexicatts canie Over to
attack us in above a thousand canoes, nn<i 'eavoured to
drive us from the maize fiekls; butweai • ' allies drove
them back to their boats, though they foi;.^: . .fith great re-
solution, killed one of our soldiers and wounded a consider-
able number. In this skirmish, twenty of the enemy were
left dead on the field, and we took five prisoners.
Chalco and Tlalmanalco were two places of material im-
portance to us at this time, as they lay in the direct road be-
tween Tlascala and our head-auarters at Tezcuco, but both
of them were garrisoned by Mexican troops ; and though
Cortes was at this time solicited by several important districts
to enable them to throw off the yoke of Mexico, he consider-
ed it as of the first necessity to dislodge the Mexicans from
these two towns, on purpose to open a secure communication
with our allies, and to cover the transport of our ship timber
from Tlascala. He sent therefore a strong detachment of
fifteen horse and two hundred infantiy under Sandoval and
De Lugo, with orders to drive the ^lexicans firom that part
of the country, and to open a clear communication with Villa
Rica. During the march, Sandoval placed ten of his men as
a rear guard, to protect a considerable number of our allies
who were returning home to Tlascala loaded with plunder.
The Mexicans fell upon this weak rear-ffuard bv surprise
during the march, kilUng two of our men and wouncui^ all the
rest) and though Sandoval made all the haste he couU to thdr
rescue, the Mexicans escaped on board their canoes with very
little loss. He now placed the Tkwcalans in lecuri^, by es-
corting
4
m
140
Ctmqunti itfMtxin nnr su book m
i
coiling lllMit bt^ond the Me&Jon garriionty ud imt i^
it^atA lb* ktteit of our geticnd to the eojmiuuidMit of Tilk
Ritii# tor iiFldidh ho WM enjoined to Mtid T >i rainfiireenieiite
1m OMild pMdh^ nwt« to Tlawala, tfaei« to wait Until tfaef
mCfe ^ite ieeitaiii tnat the rood fraui thence to Tei;6ioo wat
ttkttir. ^Sendovfll) after seeiiM'tlie Thioalans «db upon thor
Jowm^t retutned tonrardfe Chaloo> siding word Moretiv t6
the ivhiibitium, who were vw^ impatient mider the Menioea
KlM^ ti» be in f»idine« to join him. He woe attacked on
I Matth din>'<i(^ a plain covered with maiae and magmey,
hy a Btitnitf ^Jdt of Jyfekicaii troops, who woondod aevcral of
llSa aneiiilnitdMy were soon repulied and punacd to a cc«-
MderaUe difttanoe bj the cavalnr. Sandoval now pnwecoted
Ida m*i«h to Chatoo, where he fouvd the caoiqae of that
fdaee had ncently died Of the tmall-pox, having reoonuneEuc^
ed hi* two lont on Ida deathbed to the protection of Gortes,
«8 he WW eanvitteed we were the bearded men who, acowd-
big to theur ancient prophecy, were to come from the eastern
eoimtrlcs to role over tDialugid^ and had tfaerefere oenunand-
«d hit eons to receive the investiture of their state from Ae
liar J)i of CortM. Saildoval set out thersfore for Teiscaoo neaet
day^ taking aloiig with hhn the two young lords of Chalco,
Md many of the nobles of that plaoe» carrying a present of
Mlden ortiaMinte to am g^noral worth about 800,noo crowns.
Cortes aoeordiBg^y received the young princes of Chalco with
great distinction, and divided their lathers territories beNreen
tnem ) giving the dty of Chiko and the laigest share of -^
disMiet to tM elder brother, and Tiahuaimloo, Aytodnco,
■ad Ghimalhttaoia to the younger.
Abottt tirii time, Cortes sent a message to Onatimocain, the
nUgiAAg bovtreign of Mexico, by means of some prisoners
whom M> cnkiifidfor this purpose, inviting him in the mott
toiMl^atoiy terms to enter mto a treaty of peace and fitend-
di%> i but CNiMtaQOtahi rcAised to listen to any terms of ao-
oottiaiodMEioiii iUMl>continued tc cany on the most detemdn-
td and uneeasihg hostility agsinst us. FVe<]uent and loud
complaints weM»ade by our iillies of Huekotia and Goatfi-
idUin of iAe Imteursions made tipon their fierritories in the
"■eMkbontliood <of tiu» lake by the «neiny. On the old quarrel
dbewt iIm AeUh iwlneh had been approptiatsd finr the priests
mHiibffimei'- ki lim temples of Mezideu In oonicqaenoe of
Aesli 'hMtilities so near oar beadF-qnarr^rs^ Cortes WMit with
tt'rtfbrig idMMbneHt,' iwitb «trldefa -he ^ttat «p with tibe enemy
',n . . (5 about
II
fff-t.^.u/r'
auwt Ti wcT* zii< ^ Hematdn Cortes,
Ul
BOOKift
teothv-
of Vilk
reemehti
ntUthcy
fettoowat
ponthdr
Boretly t6
Mexioui
tacked cfft
•emaloT
toaccm-
irosflcated
ne of that
Dosunen^
]f Gortat,
[I, accord-
h« eaMem
fioounand-
le firodi wB
eenco neact
of Chalod,
, pres6iit of
00 crowns.
;haloowith
iesbe*^een
lare of i^
Aytodnod,
fbcrat two JcagRtt frM» Tcfeenoo, iod gavft them ncamdeii
«dffeat»^tluitlllC7^«v«rTaiitiivid to ihev tluittMhae dia^
gayvora^ Ifcvatnov rMolvad to bring ilia liiiber^vliicli
had baan fiiqMrad in Tbadala % coutnuiting: oar na^
fiirda on tM lake of Meiicoi for wlueh porpon Sradanral
«raft«nt vith a Ibroa of 800 indSmtry, indoding «> nwwk^aeia
and cnubtar^ineri, rad 15 cavttlrjr. to aenrc aa aa aacat.
Ha nvJM l^Baviaa oxderad to conduct the cbMt of Cbaleo
to- diair o^a dolari^ ; and bofere thay wt out, CortM af-
ftetad a raconciiiadon between >he Tlaacdana and tha
inhabitants of Cbalco, who had bom long at Tananea. Ha
mfa orders tikewiae to Sandoval, after leaving the akfiA of
C^ieo in tbttr own city, to inflict exenqslary punisfanient <!^
the inhabitants of A place which we call Pueblu Martsfo, mhtf
liad mUied and mvrdered forty of our men who weve aMurdi^
ins JinoNi Vera Cmz to M^oo, at the time when we w^nt to
rwere Alvando. These peoolc had not been more guil^
than those of Teacuco, who mdeed wore the leaders in that
affair, but th^ 6oidd be anyre conveniently chaMMed. Hie
place was given iqi to military ajncntion, thou^ not mora
than three or four were put to deadi, as Smidcwal had ctom*
paasieo upon tiiem. Snne of the pr&ndpd iahsi»!:2ants were
made prisoners s who assured Sandovid diat the Spaniards
wme nlitn upon fay die troops ai Mexico and Tecouoo in *
narrow pass, where they could onfy march in single tie, and
lliat it was done in revenge for the death of €!aeairat:dn.
in di9 temples at this nhM», our men found the waUs aiid
5dok smeared with the blood c^ our countrymen, and die
dcmsof two of their faces with their beards on were found
hung ujpon the Jtars, having been dressed like leather. The
'diins abo of four of our horses were found hung up as tro-
phies; and they saw written on a piece of marble in die wa9
cif 0119 <rf the bouses t " Here the unfortunate Juan Yust*
md many of his cono^anlons were made prisonem/' Yuste
waa one of the ganthnnen who came o^er with Narvnez and
had served in dw cavalry, 'kliese mdaiicholy remains fiHed
Sandoval and his mien with grief and tiige { out there wer^
ito otjeots on which to wreak dieir vwigeance, as aU the men
were fled, and none remained bat womoi and drikiren, wh»
diqprecatad dieir anger in l;he most moving terms. Sandovi^
tliierefore granted them pardon, and sqnt them to faring back
Iheir btisbaods and fathav* with a prombe of for^feness
on oonditioB of aabmisuon and luturc obedianoe. (^ ques>
tioning
( i
us
.1
11 '■
GMifMt^ ^ 3ie»ico MnT IL book «*
tionloig'lfaan about the gold tbcy had taken from our jieopli^
Ihw afndwd him it bad fJl been daimedbv the ICaauttOls'^.
Sandoval «ontinqed bin route toward* Twieabt near which
ha wae met by avast body of Indiani commanded by Glo*
dnmeqatl, accompanied by Martin L^}r>^ and emftkyed in
tranijporting^^ the shqi timber. Eight fh and men carried
the tunber dl ready ihiqaed for our thirt j ^'sida, whk the
tails, ooidage> and all other materials. Light thousand war-
riors attencbd in arm^ to protect the bearers of the timber j
9ad two- thousand carried, provisions for the whole '. Seve*
f al ^MUiiards joined us along with this escort, and two other
pdncipal chien of the Tlascaians, Ayotecstle and Teotlipil.
Buriiw the mardb, only some small bodies\of the enemy ap-
peared, mod these always at a distance} but it was deoned
neoessaiy to use the utmost vigiianoe, to avoid the danger of
m surjMriae, ayasidering the great length of the 'ineef mwch *.
Sandoval accordingly sent a strong dei^hment of &Mmish
troops as an advanced guard, and posted others on the nanks i
while he remained with the rear guard which he assigned to
the Tlascalans. litis arrangement gave great oi^ce to Chi^
ohimecatl ; but he was reconciled to this post, on being told
that the Mexicans wodd most (MPobaUy attack the rear, which
WAS tberefcnre the post df honour, because of more danurar.
In two days more, the whofe escort arrived in safety at Tez^
Cttco { the allies beinc all dressed out in their gavest habits,
with great plumes of feathers, and splendid banners, sounds
inn; meir horns and trumpets, and beating their drums, as in
tnumph for the expected &U of Mexico^ Th^ continued
marching
iU>
4 From the circumsttoee of the geM, it i* prabsble Ytiits and'hu ceil>>
|>anioni had becii'»la>B on their retreat from Mexico^ not on their way there
as stated fai the text. From this and o(ber umUar mcidents, of parties of
Spaniards having been ship in difikrent places after the retreat from Mexi-
co, it as hioMy jvobable that several detached ixutics made their eseqw,
who missed fbrminit a junotion with Cortes. H^ it will be receiiectcd,
made a detour round the west and sooth sides of the lake{ aqd it is probable
that they had turned to the east, ss the aearest aqd nqjost direct way to
TbscaU and Villa Rica.— E.
6 Clavigerotll. 146, exaggerata the armed escort t<» 50,000 Tlascalaii
warriors, commanded by thne chieft, Chichimecati, Avotecatl, and Teotli-
pil. Diax calls the two ' it, Teuleticle and Teatical ; but though his fact^
arc fully more to be depended upon, Clavigero may be accounted better
versant in Mexican orthography. — £.
6 Clavigero, II. 146, quotes Dias as saying that it extended six miles fmm
front to rear. This may very Ukdy have been the case» but Diaz nowhere
specifics the length of the lino.— £.
ctf AK T. SECT. xiL bjf Htrmn^ Qmta* .
un^^
nuffching into Titcuco finr half » d^> ami^ ocmtinual shouts
of <* CMtilla I <:utiUa I TlMcala ! TM^a 1 Long live the
emperor Dkmh Carioi I" . Oor timb^' wn now laid down at
the dodn which had heeo prepMred for this purpose j anc^
by the fsafaati of Martin Lopeai the Mb ^f o^r thirteen
brwintines were rery soon completed i but we Were oUiged
to keep a vorv careful guard, w the Mexicans r nt frequent
parties to «iaeavour to set th«n on fire. ;
The Tlascalan chieis were verjr anxious to be employed on^
some enterprise against their ancieiA enemies the Mexicans^
and Cortes resolved to indulge them bv an extteditibn against
Xaltocan, a town situated on an iajapd of a lake to the norths
ward of the great lake of Mexico or Tezcuco, which is now
called the lake of St Christcnher. -leaving therefore th«
charge of the important post of Tezcuco with Sandoval, who
was «njoined to use the utmost vigilance, and giving orders to
Martin hagm to have the vessels all ready for launching ia
fifteen days, he set* out on the expedition a«^nst Xaltocaa
with 250 Spanish infantry, ^0 cavab^,.the whole force of t^e
Tiascalans, and a body of warriors pdonging to iTezouco T;
On approaching Xaltocan, our army was met by some large
bodies of Mexican troops, whom the Qavalry soon dispened
and drove into the woods. The troths halted for the night
in some viSagea in a very populous country, and were obliged
to keep oq the alert, as it was known that the enen^y had a
strong force in Xaltocan, to which place a strong body of
Mexicans had been sent in hjae canoes, and were now con-
cealed among the deep canals in that neighbourhood. Next
morning, on resuming their march, our troops were exceed-
ingly harassed by the enemy, and several of them wounded,
as our cavalry had no opportunity to charge them, the ground
beinff much intersected by canals. The only causeway which
led mxn the land to the town had been lai'i under water, so
that our troops could not approach, and our musquetry had
little ior no e^t against the enemy in the canoes, as they
were defoided by strong screens of timber. Our people be'
gan to despair of success, when some of the natives of 1 eii,.'
cuoo pointed, out a ford with which they were acquainted, by
which our peoplie were enabled, under their suidance, to make
their way to the causeway, leading into the townj leaving
Cortes
7 ChTigab uyt, 350 Spaniih infantry, 35 honemea, and 30,000 Tlsi-
caiani, witli tix amall onnon.— £.
Ml
iW
vAnn.soMiu«^
\ (I
]i i:
Cdfm'4hA tfij^ t^fOtf on Um nulii knd. 0» infannirffciN
c«d their «iy int^ tiM town, wham lh«y mMfe a OMMiimblt
•l«tt(i|HtiBr of th0 Mcxie»ns ArMng the i«niundc» of thai
HuilQany oftlie inhabitant! of the toim to taki iheiter m
their tiiinoek' Thej then retomed to Coftee, bviniipng wHh
tpem a conaideralblef bootjr in odd, slaves, and maiwet, h»fw
iti|( only lost one soldier in this esqploit. Next day, Parte*
inarched throoj^ a thiddy peopled and well ciUtivatcd eonn-
tff aoainst a large town named Qoaidititlan, which we fiound
^jenra, and in which we halted for tlie night. Qn the en*
Ai^ng <Iay, we inwrched to another large town called Tenayoe>-
can, nut which we named ^i/la deSe^tor the Town of Scr"
^ts, on account of tome enrnmous figures of these aninmls
wl)ich were fbiind in the temjalies, and which these people
^firsfafplMMl as gods. This pUoe was likewuie deserted ny the
itd)a!btt2iniis,>lio'had withdrawn wk^ didr effects into fNaces
of safety. From thonee we ronrched to Esef^Mual^, or the
&in]i of the goldsmiths, which was dso deserted, and thence
to Tacnijii or Hacopmi, to whieh oqr troops had to cut Iheir
way ithrd^gh considerable Iwdies of the enemy. Our tracms
hmj^ hiere for the nl^^t, and were assailed next men^ipg by
several succes^ve bodies of the enemy* who had ibrined a
pton to draw tis into an ambuscade, by pretending to take
m|dit along the fttal causeway of TjicniiA, where we Inul .bu£>
i^red so much on our retreat from Mexico. This portly sue*
deeded, as Cortes and his troops pursued them along the oanse-
yttt^jaCTQU one of the bridges, and were imnudiatdly sur>
TDuhded by prodigious num»ers of the enemy, some on the
I^d and others in canoes on the water. Ctutm soon per*
^ved his mista)Ee, and ordered a retreat, which was made
^jd^ the utmost firmne^ and regdority, our men constancy
Kea[>h|j^ Orfrpnt to the enemy and giving ground iaqh by
Inqi, continually fighting. In the eonfiuion of this surprise,
3upk Vobnte, who carried ^e colours, fell fr^n the bridge
into ^s lake, and the Mexicans were even dragging him a-
way to their cAnoe^ ; yet he escaped from tfcero moo beanght
nyrtf his colours. In this unfortunate affair, five of our sol*
djers were slain, and a great many wounded* Cortas ^laited
for five days at TacUba", during which there iwisr* numy
ijildrm^ies with the enemy, and foen marched bac^ to Tez^
' cuco,
' a Clavigeio, II. 14T, ny Hitt <!wtc« mdeavound st this Hut, but in
VUHj to come to an amicaue agreement widi -the c«wt wf Mezkc^-rS.
1 '
I, I
■V
CHAP. V. SECT. XII. bjf Hernando Cortes,
$^
cuco, the Mexicani continning. to hatiM him by freqiMnt
attucks ) but hiiving drawn them on one ootasion into anim-
bttscade, in which they were deibated 'with conddenible
"ifclatighter, they donated from tiny farther attack. On arriv-
ing fit our head-quarters in Tezcuoo, the Tlaicalam, who
had em^iched themselves with plunder during the expedition* i
'holicited permission to go home that they might secure their
acquisitions in their own country, which Cones readfly con-
sented to.
During fbur days after our return from this expedition*
the Indians of several nei||hbourin2 districts came :n ,with
presents and b£^ers of subin*8bion. Although Cortes wai well
aware that they had been concerned in the murder of our
*inen after the retreat from Mexico, he recel'i^ed them all very
^graciously, and dismissed them with promises of protei;tion.
About this time likewise, several nations who had joined widi
^'ps in alliance made stronff representations of the outrages
Which had been committed upon them by the Mexicanjs, of
w'hich they produced paintiiiffs in their manner, and earnest-
tiy entreated succour. But Cortes coiild not grant them the
:il^uired assistance, as our army, besides having {tuffered lois
'by several being killed and many wounded duripg the. late
hostilities, was now grown very unhealthy. He gave them,
however, fair promises, but advised them to rely more upon
dieir Own exertions and the assistance of our other allies, for
'Which purpose he issi'?d orders to all the districts in our al-
~llarice t6 assemble in arms ogainst the common ene^ny. Th^
'accordingly collected their fbrces, and come to action in the
^eid with the Mexicans, oiid exerted themselves with somudi
Vigour that they sained the victory. The province of Chalcb
was however an object of principal importance to us, as the
possession of that country was essentially necessary to pre-
serve our communication with TIascala and Villa Rica, and
being likewise a fertile com country, contributed largely to
the subsistence (^our army. As it was much harassed by
the enemy, Cortes sent Sandoval with a detachment of about
250 of our troiOps, cavalry and infantry, to clear it of the
^Mexicans, and accompanied by a body of warriors from Tez-
'cUCo' and such of our Tlascalan allies as still remained with
onf army. Sandoval set out from Tezcuco on the I2th of
March 1521, and arrived next morning at Tlalmonolco, where
he learnt that the Mexican forces were posted at a large town
called Gnaztepeque or Huaxtepec. Beiug now joined by the
vOi* IV. -' > " :^ -K warriors
I
IllfcMii.iiilMJJliUM
I4b
Conipteti of MeMto Ipabt li. book ti«
mMn of Chalco^ Sandoval halted for the night at the town
oFCUUnakan} ana hext morning gaTe orden to hismui-
keteen and oroMbow>men to altack tho enemyt who were
pMted b strong^ ground if the troopa who were anned with
iiwordi and targetr, were formed into a oompaot body of ro-
aervei and the cavdry, being formed in snuul bodies of three
tech> were directed to charge aa aoon ai the firing had made
an impreMion oft die <niemy. While advancing in this or-
der, Sandoval perceived the Mexican forces drawn up in
three kfge columns or dense battalions, and thousdit proper
to change his original pkm^ and to endeavour to breiut through
them bv a cavalry char^. Placing himsdif, thorefore, at tne
liead of the cavdvy, he immediately proceeded to the chaige*
exdai^in^, ** St Jago I foil on, comrades 1" The main body
of the enemy was pwtly broken by this charge, but imnw-
diatdy closed again and stood firm { and the nature of the
ground was so much in fovour of the Mexicans, that Sando-
val found it necessarv to endeavour to drive them firom their
post in the manner first proposed, into the open ground in
the rear. For this purpose he made the musketeers and
crossbow-men attack the enemy in front, and thotte armed
with swords and taigets to turn their flanks, oi^eriikg also
the aUies to come forward to the attack, and directed the ca-
. vahy to be feady to charge at ah appointed si^al. Our
troops at length forced them to retreat, but they immediate-
ly occuftied another strong position in didr rear, so that San-
. ooval and tlie cavalry were unable to make any consideri^le
impreenon npon them. In one of the charges in this diffi*
osft broken ground, the horse of Gonaalo Dominguez fell
with him, and he was so iwich injured that he died in a few
days afterwards: His loss was much n^gretted by the army,
^ne was esteemed as brave as either bandovnl or De On.
Our army broke the enemy a second time, and pursued tliein
to the town, whore they were suddenly opposed by not less
than 15,0p0,fi-e8h varriors, who endeavoured to surround
our txoojpi: JBut Sandoval caused them to be attadked ob
. both flanks, when they fled towards the lown, endeavouring
however to make a stand behind some recently oonstructra
works i but, our troops followed them up so vigorously than
Uiey had no time to rally, and were constrained to take shel-
ter in the town. As his troMps were much fatiffued, and had
got hold of a good supply of provisions, Sandoval thought
proper to allow them some repose, and they began to prepare
their
OBAT. ▼. ttct. xit. bjf HetMndo Corttt,
H7
their Tictiuk, in ivhidi tbcv wtre mMi intomipud My ah
ahum of the eneni^ ipprbacniiijr. Tktojr irere m4y for «0>
Uoa In ft mtfiaeiit, ind itdvaiioea ttf oeit th* cMaoQr* forts*
lUrtely ill *n opeM pueei ilrheTe, ifter- a vtmrt aetlM« the
iitteiay were ooibthUhed td retreat bdninul their fvoihi i btft
&ifidov«l puihed on the advantaoe n^ lO ntaoh inpelnocliy^
that h« lOon drove them Sirom their #Mci, lUid tbtOpdki,
them to evacuate the town with ttte utmoet precipitation^; '>
Sradovd took: up hit quartere in la lieryexleiliive and
n^gnifleetat. flnrden, whicn contained • nuii^er df km
himdiome huiRiinM, and mahy admlraU* opnyenieBiciea It
for the reti4ehte of a great prineei but our aol^eiN had not
^en time to examine all its Deaotiea* ai it Was more than a
quarter of a l^kgiue In lin^h> I waa not in thie espiBdllion«
belnff conflmid under core of a bad wound in mj- threap
irUA t received tty a lance in the albir at litapaJapi^ and
of whioh 1 atilii carry the marb ) but I eaw this iln^ ginien
ibout twetttir '^y« aftenMutli, when I accompanied Gotten 10
this phuse, }m Nng on iihit expedition, I donokuiBMr
narrative tav Wi anA udon thif ooeaiion, but'f^4i«^ and iMlm$
yet every tning I relate is perfktiy' true/ aS ail the ttwiiaMs^
tions of every ent^rprizewens reguhiriy rqportdd atbead-
cjuarten. »mdova! now stithniotted aQ the nei|(hbotirii^
oi^ricti to submit, but to Tittle l|>afpose, ^ diepet^lebf
Ad4[>i8tla|i or Jackpichtia answered by a defiance; Ttea
gate much uneasiness to our allies ofChalod, as they Ware
assured th^ Mexicans would immediately i^tadc them ignhi
on the Spaniards returning to Tezcuco, Sanfdovsit 'Wii
rather av«rBe from engaging in any new ent^rprite, iat-a
ffreat number of his men were wounded, ^d the solcUers of
Narvaefe disliked nsks of every kind ; but our allies of Chako
were anxioi^ to reduce that place, and were strongly suppoA^
ed in this opinion by Luis Marin, a wise and valiant officer ;
and as the distance was only two leagues, Sandbval aoquies-
cedi On his advance, the en^y assailed hiin with thdr
missile Wet^nl, and thei^ retired to their strong post in the
towoi Our allies were not tery much dispoMcl to attack
the Works, in which Uie Spaniards shewe^ them the wi^,
some even of the caValry dismounting to fight on foot^ and
leaving the rest in the pliun to protect the rear. Our pecmle
at length carried the place, bjoit had a good many wounded
in the assault, even Sandoval himself. Hioi^ our alfiea
were rather tardy in the assauh, they made up for it after
the
i' ^
m
Go^fMcnl ofMfigka 'AI^T u* bookm*
,die-|AMe WM CMTiidf Mivjng the 8ipwiiards the tronble of
putting th« enemy to death f and indeed we often Uamed the
.^fodom.crfiel^ of our aUie^,fTQm whom we uved many of
our Indien ^enemi^** , M thit time indeed* our countrymen
ihoiighi thenuflvet better, employed ui smirching for gold
jund: Ului^ good femal^ priaonen, than in butchering a
fHWrcelof poor wretches who no longer attempted any de-
fence* ,;.»;•, •
j^andofal. returned to Tescuco with many slaves and oon-*
^derable phinder, aaid ju«t as he arrived at head-quarter^
«ven. befi^r^.' he had time to make a report to Cortes of the
jsuppeia of hhi late^pedition, an express arrived from Chalcp
iwitln ipferaiatiaii that they were in a more perilous situatiov
,thw biQ^r4> Quatimptzin was enrajged at the defection of
the inbabitfunt* of Chalcoi and determme^ to inflict upon thein
fthe mMt exenqilfry chastisement For this purposOf he seut
i» ftffice.cdf 20|Opo Mexican warriors across the lake in 2()0b
()98noet» with orders, to lay waste the whole district with Bre
^/md swiord. On the comroimication of this ihteUigence to
.Cortef^ he was excee4ii\gly enraged at Sandoval, ^eviing
_tjltl9fi il^s had, been occasioned by his |ieffligence,,aqd he gave
.l^o^^rf tQ. return ii^jB'^itty to the defence of Chalco, re-
Ji^sing eveUi W,'jl^e^,his^ietation of what be had./alreadv done.
'K$fluodoval ^na«.much hiuit at tjbiis^treatinent, yet weiit back to
{;l^aIco..wi^: all pof^ble' expediticm) but foupd the businef»
ijover before his arfival, as the inhabitants of that province,
ijhaving summoned their neig^ibpurs to dieir aid, had a|>
jrcpdy rq)!»lled the Mexipan invasion, and Sandoval had only
jtp.jre^urn to head-'quartq^ with the prisoners*
io ?-^ ]thia period a proclamation wlw issu^, by whfch all tlie
olpldifi^. were ordered .to bring in the Indian prisoners to be
.iKanded,) and to pay for them the royal dues. | have al-
- re^dy, mientioi^ the treatment we formerly met with .^at
[^(f^[^^K%, on,,f^ similar occasion, but we were wortte used nqw
liatjTf^uopj U possible* In the first place a fifth was tdcen
..l^wfgr io|( the king; then anodier fifth tor Cortes ; and, what
iwafi still w;orse, mo^ of the good female sUives were abbtract-
,^; during i the night. Mfe bad been promised that all the
I slaves should, be rated accprding to their value ; but the ofH-
0 cers of the crown valued them as they thought proper, and
, at a most exorbitant rate. In conseqjuence of this, the
poor soldiers for the future passed their slaves as servants,.
den^ng that they were prisoners of war, to avoid the heavy
: , duty i.
dJTAi'. T. tier, tit by iMnitinidb CMk.
140
dMf I and iiich is were in &Tour with C&hmt vlUte got
theii* ibvct narked prinvtely, P^yiiW him die eoflnfMeitlon.
Mm^ of the alavet who happcnM to fiul to bad jaartert, or
tuA ai liad a bad reputation, uwd to run away }. but their
oa^tten always remaiiied debtor* for tiieir eatianalad vialue in
the royal books* so that many were more in debt on thia ao-
couqC than all the rahie of their share In the prize gold could
nnr fiM*. About this time l&eitise, a ship arriTcd at Villa
i«ba (h>yn Spain with arms and gunpowder, in whidi camft
Julian de .^Iderete, who was sent out ae royal treasurer. In
the same ? essel came the elder Orduna, who brought out
llTe daug;^ters after the conquest, all of wiram were honour-
ably married. Fra; Mekarcio de tJrrea, also, a Franciscan.
friU', cyme in this vessel, bnnging a number of pqpal bulls,
to quiet our consciences from any guih we might have incur-
red d^iring our war&re : He made a fortune of these in a
few months, and returned to Spun. Several other persons
came by thu vessel, among whom were, Antonio Caravi^^
who still lives in Mexico, though now very old i Oeronimo
Ruyz de la Mora ; one Briones who was hanged about
four years afterwards for sedition at Ouatimala ; and Alonzo
t)iaz, who now resides in Valladolid. We learned by thia
ship, with infinite satisfaction, that the bishop of Buigos had
been deprived of all power over the afTairs of the West
Indies, as his majesty had been much displeased with his
conduct in reffard to our expedition, after having received a
true account of our eminent services.
Scarcely were we apprised of the success of the. inhabitants
of Chalco and their confederates, when a new uraent message
arrived from Chalco for assistance against a ^esh invasion
of the Mexicans. The brigantines intoided for securing the
command of the lake were now ready to launch, and we
were all anxious to commence the siege of Mexico, yet Cortes
was sensible of the importance of Chalco to the success of our
ultimate operations, and determined to march in person to
its support. Leaving the command in Tezcuco to Sandoval,
Cortes marched for Chalco on Friday the 5th of April 1521,
at the head of SOO infantry, including twenty crossbow-men
find fifteen musketeers, with thirty cavalry, and a larjge body
of the auxiliaries of Tezcuco and TJascala, meaning to clear
the district of Chalco and the environs of the lake fyov^ the
Mexicans. In this expedition, our general was accompani|e4
by the treasurer Alderetc, Melgarejo the Franciscan friar,
with
<^f^~-,..^.
m
ConqueH ef Hixicp ?4kt ii. book if •
tHdi tbc eaptiias AlVirado de OUi uid T^is, and I also wa|
on this expedition* Wa halted during the first flight at
TIalmanakid, and reached Chako next day, when Cortes
convened all the ohieft of that state, to whom he conununi*
bated his intention of oroMeding very soon to attack Mexico^
in which they engagea to give nim all the aspistance in their
power. We continued our nuurch next day to Chiinalhuer
ean or Chimalacban, a town in the province of Chalco, where
above twenty thousand warriors had assembled tojoin us,
belonging to our allies of Chalco, Guaxocingo, Tlascala,
Tcccuco, and other places, being the largest body of our
sillies that I had hitherto seen together. These were attract-
ed' by the hope of plunder, and by a voracious appetite for
human fledi, just as the vultures and other birds of prey fol^
low our armies in Italj, in order tp feast on dead bouies after
g battle
' At this place we were informed that the Mclean forces,
and their allies or subjects in that neiehbourhood, were in
the field to oppose us, Cortes therefore issued orders to
the army to be always ready for action at a moments warn-*
faig, and we proceeded on our march next fnbniin|; early,
alter hearing mass, our route lying between two ndoes of
tocks, the summits of which were fortified and filled with
brae bodies of the enemy ', who oideavoured Ir^ outcries
«nd reproaches to incite us to i^ttack them. But we pursued
mm march to Guaitepeque or Huaxtepec, a large town on
the southern declivity of the mountains, which we found
ibandoned. Beyond this place we came to a plain in which
water was very scarce, on oh^ side of which was a lofty rock
having a fortress on the summit which was filled with troops,
who saluted us on our approach with showers of arrows and
•tones, by which three of our soklicrs were wounded at the
first discharge. Cortes ordered us tp halt, and sent a party
of cavalry to reconnoitre the rock, who reported on their re-
turn that the side where we then were seemed the most ac-
cessible. We were then ordered to the attack. Corral pre^
ceding
i
9 In this expedition Cortes awpesn, by the information o^ CUvigero,
n. 15S, to have crotecd the wuthefn mountain! <^ the Mexican vale, vdA
.to have reduced Huatt^pec, Jautepec, Quauhnahuac, and other towni be>
loaginjg to the Tlahuicai, who were lubject to the Mexican empire ; thui
jiiuaoutly uung his endeavours to strengthen his own party and to weaken
4lat of the llexicans, before proceeding to assail the capital of that power*
fill cmpiRi**>£.
CHAP. V. SECT. XII. by Hernando Corte^
Wl
cecjing us with the colQKrs, and Coitei remained on th^
plain with our cavalry to protect the rear. On ascending the
mountain, the Indians threw down sreat fragments of rode,
which rolled among us and rebounded over out heads in a
most frightful manner, so that it was wonderful how any of
us escajMd. This was a most injudicious attack, and very
unlike the usrai prudence of our generaL One soldier,
named Martin Valenciano, though defended by a hehnet,
Was killed at my side. As we continued to ascend, three
more soldiers, Caspar Sanches, one named Bravo, and
Alonzo Rodriguez, were slain, and two others knocked down,
most of the rest beinff wounded, yet we continued to ascend.
1 wito thep young and active, and followed close behind our
ensign, taking eavantage of any hollows in the rock for shel-
ter. Corral was wounded in the head, having his face all
covered with blood, and the colours he bore were all torn to
rags. " Senor Diaz," said he to me, " let us remain under
cover, for it is impossible to advance, and it is all I can do to
keep my hold." On looking down, I noticed Pedro Barba
the captain of our croesbows climbing up with two sofdiere.
and ta^ng advantage as we had done of the concavities of
|the rock. I called to him not to advance, as it was impos-
sible to climb much farther, and utterly out of our power to
gain the summit. He replied in lofly termi, to keep silence
and proceed; on which I exerted myself and eot a good
way higher, sayina; we should see what he woiud do. A|
.this mom^t a shower of large fragments of rocks came
tumbling down, by which one of the soldiers along witlji
Barba was crushed to death, after which he did not stir a
step higher. Cprro^ now called out to those below, desiring
tiiem to rqHNt to jthe gejueral diat it was utterly impossible
to advance, iand that eyen retreat was infinitely dangerous. On
learning this, and being infi^rmed that most pf us were
wounded and many killed, as he could not see us on account
of the inequalities of the rock, Cortes recalled us by si|;nal^
and we came back in a very bloody and bruised condition,
eight of our party having been slaii). Three even of the
cavahry were killed on the plain and seven wounded, by the
masses of rock, which rebounded to a great distance after
their descent from so great a height.
Numerous bodies of Mexicans were lying in wait for jds,
intending to have attacked us while engagetl in the ascent,
and
:iK tsjipl-W! *imf Jfi'S
158
donquest of Mexico pakt ii. book ii.
I
and now advanced towards us in the plain } but we soon
drove them before us, on which they took shelter among
sdme other rocky ridges. We pursued them through some
narrow passes among the rocks, and found they haid taken
shelter ui anoUier very strong fortress, similar to that from
which we had been repulsed. We desisted for the present,
and returned to our former post in sftarch of water, our men
and horses haying been unable to procure any during the
whole of this day. We found some appearance of springs at
the foot of the rock, but they had been drawn dry by the
g' eat numbers of the enemy, and nothing remained but mud.
!ing under the necessity of endeavouring to procure water,
we returned again to the second fortress, which was about
a league and a half fh)m the first, where we found a small
village with a grove of mulberry trees, in which we discover-
ed a very scanty spring. The people above discharged their
missile weapons on our approach, seeming to be much more
numerous tnan in the former place, and they were so situated
that no shot from us cpyld reach them. For some way up
the rock, there were evident paths, but it seemed to present
insurmountable difficulties against any attack. Fortunately
for us there was another rock which commanded that on
which the enemy were posted, and within shot, to which all
our finsarms and crossbows were detached, and the rest of
our infantry proceeded to climb up the garrisoned rock
slowly and with infinite difficulty. The enemy might easily
have destroyed us by rolling down fragments ot rocks on our
heads, but their attention was called off from their main de-
fence by our missiles, though rather at too great distance to
produce much effect ; yet having killed several of the enemy,
they lost heart and offered to submit. On this, Cortes or-
dered five of their chiefs to come down, and offered to pardon
them for their hostile resistance, on condition that they
should induce those in the other fortress to surren^ler, which
they accordingly engaged for. Cortes then sent the cap-
tains XaramilTo and de Ircio, with the ensign Corral and a
parly of men, among whom I was, to ascend the rock which
bad surrendered, giving us orders not to touch a grain of
maize. I considered this as full permission to do ourselves
all the good in our power. We found this fortress to consist
of an extensive plain on the summit of a perpendicular rock*
the entrance to which did not exceed twice the size of the
mouth of an oven. The whole plain was full of men, women,
6 and
OK II.
soon
tmong
I some
[taken
t from
resent,
ir men
ing the
ings at
by the
It mud.
! water,
s about
a small
iscover-,
ed their
ch more
situated
I way up
I present
tunately
[ that on
irhich all
le rest of
led rock
It easily
s on our
main de-
Btancc to
e enemy,
lortes or-
0 pardon
lat they
which
tiie cap-
ral and a
ck which
grain of
ourselves
Lo consist
liar rock,
ize of the
women,
and
CHAP. V. SECT. XII. by Hernando Cortes.
153
^nd children, b^t they had not a drop of water. Twenty of
their warriors had been slain by our shot, and a sreat mauy
wounded. AU their property was packed up in bmes, among,
which there was a considerable quantity of tribute, whic^
had been collected on purpose to be sent to Mexico. I had
brought four of my Indian servants along with me, whom I
began to load, and four of the natives whom I engaged in
my service ; but Captain De Ircio ordered me to desist, or
he would report mc to the general, putting me in mind that
Cortes had forbidden us to touch a grain of maize. I an-
swered that I had distinctly heard the orders about the maize, /
and for that reason I took the bales. But he would not allow
me to carry any thing away, and reported me on our return
to Cortes, expecting I should receive a reprimand i Cortes,
however, observed that he was sorry I had not got the plun-
der, as the doss v/ould laugh at us and keep their property,
after all the evu they had done us. De Ircio then proposed
to return ; but Cortes said it was not now time. Ilie chiefs
now returned from the other fortress, having induced its
garrison to submit ; and we returned to Huaxtepec that we
might procure water. Our whole force was lodged for the
nignt in the buildings belonging to the noble garden which
J formerly mentioned, and I certainly never saw one of such
beauty and magnificence. Our general and others who
walked over all its extent, declared that it was most admir-
ably disposed, and equallcil the most magnificent they had
ever seen in Spain.
We marched next day towards the city of Cuernabaca or
Quauhnahuac. Tlie Mexicans who occupied that place
came out to figlit us, but were soon defeated and pursued to
Teputztlan or Tepatlan, which we took by storm, and made
a considerable booty of Indian women and other spoils. Cor-
tes summoned the chiefs of this place to come in and submit ;
and on their refusal, and on purpose to impress the inhabi-
tants of other places with terror, he ordered about the half
of this town to be set on fire. At this time, the chiefs of a
town called Yauhtepec came to Cortes and made their sub-
mission. Next day, we returned to Cuernabaca, which is a
large town in a very strong situation, being defended by a
deep ravine with a small rivulet, which precludes all access
except by two bridges, which the inhabitants had broken
down on out approach. Cortes was informed of a ford about
half a league above the town which was practicable for the
V'avairy,
'»,.'/■ -t . — » »•
-• ■»—^2*
154
CtM^St ^Mexico FART II. BOOK II.
)
cavalry, to which he marched, tiy ^hich the main strengtl^
«f the enem V was drawQ off to oppose him. We of the ip-
hntrj searcneid tor means to pass the ravine, and at length
discovered a very danserous pass by means of spme t ees
which hang over from not^ sides, by the help of whiph aoout
ihirtf of us and a considerable nmnber of our TIa calsx^
alliea got across Three fell into the ravine, one of '^vhci.a
brpke his leg. |t was a most terrifying passage, and at one
time I was quite blind with ciddiness. Having got over and
formed, we fell unexpectedly on the flank and rear of the
enemy, and being now joined by a party of the cavalry,
we soon drove the enemy from the field into the neighbour-
ing woods and rocks. We found considerable property in
the town, and we were here all lodged in the buildings of a
large garden belonging to the cacique of the district. A de>
putation of twenty of the chiefs of the Tlahuican nation now
waited on Cortes, offering to submit their whole country to
his authority, and threw all the blame of their hostilities ot|
the Mexicans.
The object of our next march was against Xochimilco, a
large city oi| the fresh water lake of Chalco. in which most
of the houses are built. As it was late before we left Quauh-
nahuac, and the weather was exceedingly sultry, our troops
suffered excessively for want of water, which was not to be
procured on oi|r route. Many of our allies fainted, and one
of them, and also one of our soldiers died of thirst. Seeing
the distress of the army, Cortes ordered a halt in a pine
forest, and sent forwards a party in search of relief. As
I saw my friend De Oli about to set o|f, I took three of my
Indian servants and followed the party, who endeavoured to
persuade me to return; but I wa6 resolute, and De Oli at
kngth consented, telling me I should have to fight my way.
At the distance of about half a league our cavalry came to
some villages on the side of a ridge of mountains, where they
found water in the houses, anuone of my servants brought
me a large jar full of water. Having quenched my thirst,
I now determined to retnrn, as the natives had taken the
alarm, and were gathering to attack us. I found Cortes
just about to resume the march, and gave him and the offi-
cers who were with him a hearty draught from my jar. The
whole army now moved forward to the villages, where a
scanty supply of water was procured. It was now near sun-
set, and the cavalry came in with a report that the whole
4 country
^'4 > •' *^.' \ifi.M
CHAP. y. SECT. XII. ly Hernando Cortes,
155
cotuitry had riwn agdnit us, on which aciconnt we halted
herd for the night, which was very rainy with much wind,
{» I well remember, beiiu; on the night guard. Several
of our Boldiert were taken m here with inflammation of their
mouth and throat, owing to their having eaten a species of
artichoke to quench their thirst. ^ ' ' <
We resumed our march early next morning, and arrived
about eisht o'dock at Xochimilco "*. I can give no idea of
the procUgiouB force of the enemy which was collected at this
place to oppose us. They had broken down the bridges, and
fortified themselves with many parapets and pallisades, and
many of their chiefs were armed with the swords which we
lost during our flight from Mexico, which thev had polished
very nicely. The attack at the bridge lasted above half an
hour, several of our people getting across by swimming, in
which attempt some were drowned, and we were assailed
at once hi front and rear and on both flanks. At length our
cavalry got on firm ground, after losing several men, and
we drove the enemy oefore us j but just at this time a fresh
reinforcement of at least 10,000 Mexicans arrived, and re-
ceived the charge of the cavalry with great intrepidly, and
wounded four of our men. At this moment the good ches-
nut horse on which Cortes rode fell under him among a
crowd of the enemy» who knocked him down, and great
numbers gathering around were carrying him- o£P, when a
body of our Tlascalan allies came up to his rescue, headed
by the valiant I>e Oli, and remounted him, after he had
been severely wounded in the head. De Oli also received
three desperate sword wounds from the enemy. As all the
streets of the town were full of Mexican warriors, we had to
divide into a number of separate bodies in order to fight
them ; but we who were nearest the place in which our ge-
neral was in such danger, being alarmed by the uncommon
noise and outcry, hurried there, where they found him and
about fifteen of tlie cavalry in a very embarrassing situation,
amid parapets and canals where the horse had no fireedom to
uct. We immediately attacked the enemy, whom we forced
to give ground, and brought oft* Cortes and Pe Oli. On
first
10 Thb beautiful ci^ waa the largest in the vale of Mexico, aSttx the
capital and the royal residences of Tezcuco and Tlacopan, and was famous
for its floating ganlent, whence it derived iu nanoe, signifying flower gu-
deni in the Mexican laiiguage.--Clayig. 11. 155.
•*' .. .•,.■■ ■
186
Conqueti iff Mexico part ir. book it.
Arivt pawing, at the bridge, Cortes had rdered i^e cavalry to
4ct in two divinionii on purpose to clear our flanktt : 'uaj
returne<l at this time all wounded, and reported thai iUi
•nemy were so numerous and desperate, that all their cfibrt.'i
were unavailing to drive them away. At the timu the cb-
valry came in, wc were in an enclosed court, ilressing our
wounds with rags and burnt oil { and the enemy sent Ur
such sliowers ot arrows auiong us that hardly any escaped
b^ing wo^ndcd. Wo all nL'>v Kdllied out upon the enemyi,
both cavalry and infantry, and made conNiderable ha\i)C
among them with our 'swurilii.^ ko that we druvr tlicm oway
and they gave over their (idom;;^ ii) storm our post, i laving
now some relaxation, Coi'iet* bmoglu our v- hole force to the
largu enclosures in which the tompic» wcrt > Uiuati^il { u^id on
home of us ascending to the tup of one of iu^ lempl ;r^ where
yv^* li id « commuoding view of Mexico and t?H i»Ae, *<t' per-
ceives! about two thousand canoes fuH of tr(iov>> camiiig to
attack MS. A bodv of ten thousand nun vnn\^ likewise '.een
infuUnv^rch b;^ land for tl^e sumc purpo!^c, and the enemy had
ohxady iuiiy that, number in and about the town. We learn-
ed from ti\u cki> fs whoxn we had made prisonern, that this
junmensc foiTe wa > destined to at>i>aidt our quarters that
night) tor vhich i ?^(m strong guard'; were posted at oil
the places where the t^nemy were rxpi'ctcd to disembark ;
the cavalry were hckl in readiness to diurge upon them on
the roads and firm gromid c nnd constant fiotroles were kept
going about during the ui^^t, I was posted tdong with ten
other soldiers to keep gntud at a stone qiid lime wall which
commanded one of the landing-places, and while there we
licard a noise occnsioii^d by the approach of a party of the
enemy, wliom we b<?at • >ff', sending a report to Cortes by one
of our number. *Uie enemy made a second attempt, in
which they knocked down two of our men ; but being again
repulsed, they made an attempt to land at a different place,
vhere there was a small g9te communicating with a deep
canal. Tlie n^ht was extremely dark, and as the natives
were iiot oocustumed4o %ht in the night time, their troops
fell into confusion ; and mstead of making their attack in
two opposite places at the same time, they formed in one
ImnIv of at least 15,000 men.
when our report reached Cortes, he come to us attended
hy nine <^ ten of the cavalry, and os he did not answer my
challenge, I and my comrade Gonzalo Stmchcz, a Portufi^ese
from
.^ — ■Iwti-**.'
^vl^l*f*-^-V:*»V*
i * A- '♦^•^-^
OK Ik
Jry to
tai ikirf
cffoit*
the CB-
ng our
tent iir
enemy,
m oway
1 Invttig
e to tlio ^
laid on
,^ wliorc-
»*'<; per-
>m'uig to
wise been
icmy hod
Ve leorn-
tbat this
ters that
icd at all
iembark ;
them on
(vere kept
; with ten
rail which
there wc
rty of the
es by one
tempt} in
ing again
ent place,
h a deep
he natives
eir troops
: attack in
ed in one
s attended
mswer roy
'ortujfuese
from
cHAf. V. sicT. XI r. Ijf Hernando Cortes,
m
from Al/arvc, Ara! three or four shots at^ them i on which
observed to his escort, that tliis
inspected, a» it was in charge of
■n observed that our post was a
u his rounds without saying any
more, i wns afterwardi^ told that one of the sokliers ol Nar-
vrv?z wa» ■vhippcd this very niig;ht for negligence OQ his post.
As our powder was all expended, we were ordered to prepare
kno^in;.^ our voioes,, Cort^«
post tHd ?K* requiii to b;
two ol' hiij voicrans. K?
dangait ,i4 oisfv, unu ■'..^mthv.i
t>f the croKaljow'H. At break of day the enemy made
>.i fresh att&tk ami killed one Spaniard, but we drove them
back, killing oevcrul of tlicir chiefs, and took a great many
priaoucrs. Our cavalry had been ordered out to charge the
Mexi<:nns, but finding them in great force, they sent back
ifor nHisistance. The ^vnole of our army now sallifid forth and
completely defeated the enemy, from whom we took several
pri8onc>rs. From these men, we learned that the Mexicans
intended to weary us out by reiterated attacks, on which ac-
count it was resolved to evacuate the place next day. In the
mean time, having information that tnc town contained much
wealth, >ve got some of the prisoners to point .out the houses
in which it was contained, which stood in the water of the
fresh water lake, and could only be approached by small
bridges over the canals, leading from a causeway. A consi-
derable number both of our men and of the allies w«nt to
these houses, from which they brousht away a great deal otT
bootv in cotton cloth and other valuable articles, and this ex-
'amptc was followed by others. While thus employed, a
body of Mexicans cumc upon them unexpectedly m canoes,
and besides woundinc many of our men, they seized ii>ur
soldiers alive, whom they carried off in triumph to Mexico «
and from these men Guatimotzin learnt the smallnoss of o«r
number, and the great loss we had subtmned in killed and
wounded. After questioning them as much as be thought
proper, Guatimotzm commanded their hands and feet to be
cut, off, and sent them in this mutilated condition through
many of the surrounding dlstrlclii, as an example of tin; ttvwt-
ment he intended for u^ all, and then ordered t^em to ^^ put
to death.
On the ensuine morning we had to sustain a fresh ixttnck,
^8 hud regularly been the case during tht tour days we re-
remained
!5
H
US
Conquest tf Mexico VkWt ii. book It*
■■».
I
lnftfn«d in Xochimiico, but which we now determined to
quit Befbre commoncing our march, Cortei drew up th«
wtny in an open place a little way ui^t of the town, in which
the markets weru held, where ho made ui a ipeech, in whiidh
he expatiated on the dangert we had to encounter in oUt*
march, and the strong bodres of the enemy we might expeet
to opnose our retreat, nnd then warmly urged us to leave oil
our plunder and luggagu, that we migtil mi be exposed to
danger in its defeiitif. We reniotistrated, however, that it
would be a cowardly act to idvnrulon what we hod so hordlv
won, deoluring that we tbit coiilldent of beiijg able lit defbilil
our ftemons and property against all assailants. He uavc
way, therefore, to our wishes, and arranged the order ofour
march, placing the boggnge in the centre, and dividing the
cavalry and crossbows uietween the van and roar guards, as
our musketry was now uscleis fur want of powder. The e>
nemy harassed us by continual assaults all the way from Xo-
ohhnllco to Guyocun, or Cojohuaoaii, a city on tlic borders
of the lake, near one of the cuiuuwuys leading to Mexico,
which we fbund abandoned, und where we took up our quar-
ters for two days, taking uare of our wounds, and makintf
arrows for our crossbows. The enemy which hud especially
criMtructed us on this march, consisted of the inhabitants of
Xochimilco, Cuyocan, Huitiilopochco, latapalapa, Miinuic,
Mid Ave other towns, all of considerable sue, and built on
the edge of the lake, near one uiiotlier, and not fhr firom
Mexico. On the third uiorniiig we marched for Tlacopan
or Tacuba, harassed us usual by the enemy, but our caval-
ry soon forced them to retire to their canals and ditches.
During this march, Cortes attempted to lay an ambush for
the enemy, for which purpose he set out with ten horsemen
Mid four ser^'ants, but had nearly fallen into a snare him-
self. Having encountered a party a Mexicans who fled
before him, he pursued them too far, and was suddenly sur-
rounded by a large boily of warriors, who started out from
an ambuscade, and wounded all the hones in the first attack,
carrying ofT two of the attendants of Cortes to be sacrificed
at Mexico, the rest of the party escaping with considerable
difficulty. Our main body readied Tacuba in safety, with
all the baggage ; but as Cortes and his party did hot appear,
we begiui to entertain suspicions of some misfortune having
befallen him. On this account, Alvarado, De Oil, Tapia,
and I, with some others, went to look for hUn in the direc-
tion
■'-''-^-r-l'i'iilT"iii"iliilifiltlr
'■■■•If?
OOK It*
ned to
up th«
whion
in ottt*
leave Ml
lOieil to
that It
) hnrdly
11 (ttlblill
He gttvc
er ofour
ding the
inrdit, an
The e-
Tom Xo-
e borders
Mexico,
our (luar-
^ making
especially
fbltanti ui'
Miinuic,
1 built oil
fur from
TIacopan
our cttvol-
d ditches.
mbush for
liorsemen
,nare bim-
who fled
denly tur-
1 out fVom
brst attaclc,
^ sacrificed
onsiderable
kfety, with
hot appear,
une having
Oil, Tapia,
the direc-
tion
CHAP. V. SECT. XII. iby Hernando Cortes.
U9
tion in which we had last seen him. Wc soon met two of
his servants, who informed us of what had happened, and
were shortly afterwards joined by Cortes, who iippeaxtd ex-
tremely sad, and even shed tears.
When we m ' ived at our quarters in Tacuha, which were
in some large enclosed courts, it rained very heavily, and we
were obliged to remain exposed for about two hours. On
(lit* wL'iitlii'r clearing iipi tne general and his officers, with
Siitiiv pf the Mien who weie on duty, went up to the top of
le great temple of 'facuba, whence we hod a most delight-
ful prosneot of the lake, wiiji all Uh numerous cities and
tewiis, iiHhig as It wfirn «iiir of tlio water. InniimcraMe ca-
nons were seen in all directions, sonii; employed in fishine,
nnd others passing with provisions or nierchaiidlce of oil
kinds. We all gtivo praise to Ood, who had been pleased to
render us the Instruments for bringing the numerous inhabi-
tants of so fine a country to the knowledge of hi* holy namei
vet the bloody scenes wnbh we had already experienced in
Mexico, filled us with melancholy for the past, and even with
some apprehension for the future. These recollections made
Cortes exceedingly sad, regretting tlie many valiant soldieri
ho had already lust, and the brave men viiunn lie might still
expect to lull before he could be able to reduce the great,
strong, ami ni()Mi|uu3 e|(y of Mexico to subinlssion ". Our
reverend Fatlier Olmeiio endeavoured ',o console him, and
one of our soldiers observed, tiiat such was the fortune of
war, and that our general was in a very different situatbn
from Nero, vhcn he contemplateu nis cwital on fire. Cor-
tes replied, vliat he felt melancholv while reflecting on the ^
fatigues and dangers we should still have to pass through | '
but that he shouQ soon take effectual measures for bringing .
the great object in view to a speedy conclusion. Having no
particular purpose to serve by remfiiniiw in Tacuba, some of' .
our officers and soldierd proposed to take a view of the cau-
seway where we had ouffered so severely on the fatal night of
our flight from Mcjcico ; but this was considered dangerous
and Imprudent. V/e accordingly proceeded on our march
by Escapozalco, which 'was abandoned by ^e enemy on our
approach,
1 1 DIu mention! a poem circulated at the time, as beginning in refe<
rence to the melancholy of Cortes on this occasion, somewhat in the fol> '
lowing strain :
In Tacuba was Cortes, with many a eallam chief ;
He thought upon his losses, and bowM bis head with grief.
i [
1
160
1
iti!
h\
Conquest qf MexicB part ii. book ii.
Sproachf to Terajoccan, which was aUo deserted, and
ence to Coatitlui or Ouatitlan, where we arrived excessive*
ly fiiUguedi as it never ceased raining during the whole of
tnat oay. We took un our quarters in that place for the
night, which was excessively rainy ; and, though the enemy
gave us some alarms during the night, I can testify that no
proper watch was kept, owiag to the inclemency of the wea-
ther, as my post was not visited either by rounds or corpora).
IVom Coatitlan, we continued our march by a deep miry
road, through four or five other towns, all abandoned, and
arrived in two days at Aculman or Oculman, in the territory
of TesBCUco, where we received the pleasing intelligence that
a reinfbrctoient had arrived to us from Spain. Next day
"we proceeded to Tezcuco, where we arrived worn out witn
wounds and fatigue, and even diminished in our numbers.
Soon after our return to Tezcuco, a conspiracy was form-
ed for the assassination of our general, at the head of which
was one Antonio de Villafana, an adherent of Velascruez,
and some of the other soldiers who had come over with Nar-
vaez, but whose nam^ I do not choose to mention, and the
conspirators had even communicated their plan to two prin-
cipt^ officen, whom I will not name^ one of whom was to
have been appointed omtain-general on the death of Cortes.
Th^ had even arranged matters for the appointment of al-
guazil-major, alcaldes, regidor, contador, treasurer, veedor,
and others of that kind, and of captains and stahdard-bearer
to the army, all from among the soldiers of Narvaez. All
the principal adherents of Cortes were to have been put to
death, and the conspirators were to have divided our pro-
perties, arms, and horses among themselves. This business
was revealed to Cortes, only two days after our return to
Tezcuco, by the repentance of one of uie conspirators, whom
he amply revtrarded. The general immediately communicat-
ed the intelligence to Alvorado, De Oli, Sandoval, Tania,
Luis Marin, and Pedro dc Ircio, who were the two alcaides
for the time, also to mc, nnd to all in whom he reposed con-
fidence. We all accompanied Cortes, well armed, to the
quarters of Villafana, where he found him and many others
of the conspirators, and took him immediately into custodv
The others endeavoured to escape, but were all detained ai
sent to prison. Coites took a paper from the bosom of Vil-
lafana, having the signatures of all his accomplices; but
which he afterwards pretended that Villatlina had swallowed,
MH''
f?T"^
to
H,
CHAP. T. SECT. XII. by Hernando Cortes,
Kl
to let the minds of the oontpintiMra at rest, tt they were too
numerous to be all punished in the present weak state of our
armv. Villa&na was immediately tried, and made a M
confession i and his guilt being likewise clearly established
by many witnesses, the judges, who were Cortes, the two at*.
calde%, and De Oli, condemned him to die. Having oonfba»|) ,
sed himself to the reverend Juan Diaz, he was han^ from
a window of the apartment No more of the conspirators
were proceeded against i but Cortes thoDjg^t it prudent' to
appoint a body guard for his future security, sriected from
among those who had been with him from the first, of which
Antonio de Quinones was made captain.
At this period an order was issued for bringing in all our
prisoners to be marked, being the third time since we came
to the coiintry. If that operation were unjustly conducted
the first time, it was worse the second, and this time wane
than ever ; for besides the two fiilhsfor the king and Cortes,
no less than thirtv drauffhts were made for the captains t he-
sides which, all the handsome females we had given in to be
marked, were stolen away, and concealed till it became con-
venient to produce them.
As the brigantines were entirely finished, and the canal
for their passage into the lake was now sufficiently wide and
deep for tnat purpose, Cortes issued orders to all the districts
in our alliance, near Tezcuco, to send him, in the course of
ten days, 8000 arrow-shafts from each district, made of a
particular wood, and as many copper heads. Widiin the
appointed time, the whole number required was brought to
head-quarters, all executed better than even the patterns.
Captain Pedro Barba, who commanded the crossbows, or-
dered eiach of his soldiers to provide two cords and .nnts, and
to try the range of their bows. Cortes ordered all the ca-
valry to have their lances new-headed, and to exercise their
horses daily. He sent likewise an express to the elder Xir
cotencatl at Tlascala, otherwise called Don Lorenzo de Var-
gas, to send 20,000 of the warriors of Tlascala, Huixotm-
co and Cholula ; and he sent similar orders to Chalco and
Tlalmanaloo ; ordering all our allies to rendezvous at Tezcu-
co ott the day after the festival of the Holy Ghost, 2iBth A-
pril 1521.. And on that day, Don Hernandez Ixdilxochitl
of Tezcuco, was to join us with all his forces. Some consi-
derable reinforcements of soldiers, horses, arms, and ammuni-
tion hac^ arrived from Spain and other places, w that when
VOL. IV, L mustered
168
ConqueU qf Mexico past ii. book ii*
muatered on the before-mentioned day by Cortes, in the larae
enclmurei of Tezcuco, our Spanish force amounted to the
foUowing number: 84 cavalry, 650 infantry, armed with
sword add buckler, or pikes, and 194 musketeers and cross-
bow-men, in all 928 Spaniards. From this number he se-
lected 12 musketeers or crossbow-men, and 12 of the other ,
infimtry, for rowers to each of the vessels, in all 312 men,
appointing a captain to each vessel ; and he distributed 20
cannoneers through the fleet, which he armed with such
guns as we had that were fit for this service. Many of our
men had been formerly sailors, yet all were extremely averse
from acting as rowers on the present occasion ; for which
reason the general made inquiry as to those who were na-
tives of 4ea-ports, or who had formerly been fishers or sea-
fiiring men, all of whom he ordered to the oars ; and though
some of them pled their eentility as an exemption, he would
hear di no excuse. By these means he obtained 150 men
for this service, who were in fact in a much better situation
than we who bore the brunt and danger of the war on land,
as will appear in the sequel. When all this was arranged,
and the crews embarked along with their commanders, each
brigantine hoisted a royal standard, and every one a distin-
guishing flag. Cortes likewise gave the captains written in-
structions for their guidance, dividing them into squadrons,
eadh of which was to co-operate with a particular leader of
the land forces.
Cortei now issued the following general orders to the ar*
my: !• No person to blaspheme the Lord Jesus, his Virgin.
Mother, the Holy Apostles, or any of the Saints, under
heavy penalties. 2. No soldier to maltreat any of our allies
in their persons or properties. 3. No soldier to be absent
from quarters on any pretence. 4. Every soldier to keep
his arms, both offensive and defensive, in the best order.
5. No soldier to stake his horse or arms in gaming. 6. No
•oldier to sleep out of his armour, or without his orms be-
aide him, except when disabled by wounds or sickness.
Liastly, the penalty of death was denounced for sleeping on
guard, for a sentinel quitting his post, for absence ifrom quar*
ters without leave, for quitting the ranks in the field, or for
flight in battle.
At this time our allies of Tlascala arrived under the com-
mand of Xicotencatl the younger, who was accompanied by
his two brothers. Some of the warriors of Huexotzinco and
6, Cholula
CHAP. ▼. sicr. XII. Ijf Hernando Cortet,
l«t
Cholul* came along with the TIascalans, but not in any great
numbers ", yet tlie alacrity of our allies was such that they
joined us a day previous to that which was appointed by
Cortes. They marched in with great military panule, eacn
of the chiefs carrying a standard with their national device, a
white vpteaA eaaust and they were all in high spirits, shouting
out, CastiOa I Costilla I Tlascala I TlascaU 1 From the ar-
rivid of their van, till the rear came in, took up three hours.
Cortes received theili with great courtesy, promising to make
them all rich on their return to their native country, and
dismissed them with many compliments to their respective
quartei^.
Cortes made the following arrangement of our land armj
for the investment of Mexico, distributing our forces in three
separate divisions, under the respective commands of Alva-
raao, De Oli, and Sandoval, reserving to himself to act
where his presence might be most necessary, and taking in
the mean time the command of the fleet Pedro de Alvara-
do, under whom I served, had 150 infantry, SO cavalry, 18
musketeers and crossbow-men, and 8000 Tlascaians, and
was ordered to take post at Tacuba, havina three captains
under his command, his brother Jorae de Alvarado, rcdro
Guttierrez, and Andres de Moniara, having each a company
of 50 infantry, with a third of the musketeers and crossbow-
men, the cavalry being commanded by Alvarado in person.
— Christoval de Oli commanded the second division, having
under him Andres de Tapia, Francisco Verdugo, and Fran-
cisco de Lugo, with 175 miantry, 30 cavalry, 20 musketeers
and crossbows, and 8000 of our Indian allies. This divi-
sion was ordered to take post at Cuyoacan or Cojohuacan.—
The third division, under the command of Oonado de Sau*
doval, who had under him captains Luis Marin and Pedro
de Ircio, consisted of 150 infantry, 24 cavalry, 14 musketeers
and crossbows, and above 8000 Indian warriors, was to take
post at Iztapaktpa. Tlie division of Alvarado and De Oli
were ordered to inarch from Tezcuco by the right, going
round the northern side of the lake, and the tliird, under
Simdovol, by the left, to the south end of the lake j and his
inarch
is Clavigero, n. 149, carries the number of allies which jcuned Cortes on
tiiis occaiion, to more than S00,o00 men. In hit enumeration of the se-
veral divisions of the army appointed £or the investment of Mexico, Dias
makes ttie IpdisB. allies very little more than 34,000 warriors^-HB.
tft-^ltfWg'^*' *-'«'*■ ■*te'.»aM**' *
leif
""Conquest of Jfrxui? part li. fiooft tf •
1
iMarch liieing much shorter, he vras ordered to remain in
Tezcuco nntil Cortes should sail out with the fleet ' '.
^ Befinre 'setting out on their march, Alvarado and De OH
dirtcted' onr Indian allies to go oti a da^ before us, (hat we
iniight not be interrupteti by their numtiers, and ordered them
to wait for us when they, reached tlie Mexican territor^v
"While' on their march, Chichimecad remarked that Xico-
tencatl, the commander in chief of the TIasCalans was absent j
and it was fonnd that he had secretly gone off from TezcUco
for TIascala on the preceding night,' in order to take pos-
session uf the territory and property of Chichimecatl, think-
ing this a good opportunity during the absence of that chief
eirra his warriors, and being in no apprehension of any oppo-
sitioi^, :^ow that Maxicatzin was dead. Chichimecatl retur* (^
immediatelv to Tezcuco, to inform Cortes of what had tak jn
placet And our general sent five chiefs of Tbzcuco and two
Tlascalan chiefs, to request Xicotencatl to return. He an-
swered, that if his old rather and Maxicatzin had listened to
him, they would not, have been now domineered over by
Cortes iaid the Spaniards, and absolutely refused to go back.
On this haughty answer being reported to CorleS, he imme-
diately sent off an alguazil with tour horsemen and five Tez-
cncan chiefs, ordering thbm to seize and hang Xicottocatl
wherever they could find him. Alvarado interceded strongly
for his pardon, but ineffectually ; for though Cortes seemed
to relent, the party who arrested Xicotencatl in a town sub-
ject to Tezcuco, hung him up by private orders from Cortes,
and some reported that this was d<>ne with the approbation
of the elder Xicotencatl, father to the Tlascalan general.
This affair detained us a whole day, and on the next the
two divisions of Alvarado and De Oli marched by the sanie
route, halting for the night at Aculma or Alcolman, a town
belonging to the state of Tezcuco, where a very ruinous
quarrel was near taking place between our two commanders
and their divisions. De Oli bad sent some persons before to
take quarters for his troops, and had appropriated every
house in the place for his men, marking tiiem by setting up
green boughs on the terraces ; so that when Alvarado arrived
witli
13 Diaz mentiont, that about this time intellixence came to Tezcuco, that
three of our soldiers who had been left by Pizarro to search for mines in
the country of the Zapotecas had been put to death by the Mexicans, on?
only, named Barrientos, having escaped to Chinantb, where he was pro-
tected by the natives. — ii.
• •
CHAP. Y, SECT. $11. by Hernando Cortes,
mk
with liis divwion, we M not a ,f ingl^ |miii9« %,iUiJV> Ic^g^;
in. Our 8ol4iers werie.mudi irritaM At tytd|rciun^|t^
and stood immediately tQ their artm toJ^Kwl^moie:^
De Q\if and the tFP commarderflev^DclM^CIpiiged.eatilii odiQfit
jliut several of the more prudent of t^je olScera anjt^hr 449i|
interposed, and a reqmiciliatioii was effi^ctedi yi^ Alyflrado>aQ4
Pe Oli were never afterwards good friends. .AfiexpriBnwm
sentoiFimmediately to apprize Cartes of ^huin^Q|ide|-s|9Sfid^
who wrote to all the people of any influence in the twq (Mvi?
sions, greatly ciuidenining the circumstances of \hia disagro^
ment. which might have produced fatal eonae^uenjces tqpivr
whole army, and eairnestly recpminendcd a recoi)cilement.
We continued our march for two dayai mpr^i ,|9y feytr^I
Mexican dties, which were abandoned by their inhabitants j
aqd passing through Coatitlan, Tenajoccan and ItzoapuzaJcQ^
where our allies waited for us, we profceefle^ for TACub%
otherwise p^Led 'i)!'Iacopan.
Sectiov XIIL
Narrative of Occwrencesfrom the commencen^nt oftht.Skege ff
Mexico to its Uedi^tiqiif and the Captwf qfQwUimotxin^
HwiifG th^s,.by (he occupation of Tacqba, commenced the
investment of the great and populous city of Mexico, we
soon found the enemy around us in great nnmbers ; and m
the first operation, it w^s determined on Uie following day,
that our divisions should msrph to Chappltepep to destroy the
aqueduct at that place, by which the city of Mexico waa sup-
plied with fresh water. We set put accordingly with our
iallies, and although the enemy attadke^) us op otir march, we
repelled them and succeeded in our pbject of cufting off the
pipes, so that from that time the city of Me:);ico ivas deprived
of, fi-esh water. It was now determined to endeavour to pe-
netrate to the city of Mexico by the causeway of li'acuba, or at
least to attempt getting possession of the first brid^ on that
causeway; but on our arrival there, the prodigious piimber of
, lioats which covered the watei* on both »ides, and the multi-
tude of MeTficon troops which thronged the causeway to op-
pose us, was perfectly astonishing. By the first night of
arrows which they discharged against ue, three of our ;nen
yietQ slain and thirty wyunded ; yet we advanced to the
bridge^
i
'la
tw
Conquest of Mexico
PART II. BOOK II.
\
'\
bridal the enemy retiring before us, as if by a concerted stra>
lagenif so that we wet'e exposed on both flanks, on a narrow
raad only twenW feet wide, as a butt for the innumerable
arrows of the Meipcans in the capoes, and neither our musf
auetry nor crossbows were of anv avail against the people in
be canoes, as they were efibctually protected by high wooden
Mweens. The horses of our cavalry were all wounded, and
when at any time they made a charge upon the enemy, thc^
were almost immediatdy sti^t by barriers and parqiets which
the enemy had drawn across the causeway for the purpose, and
from whence they defended themselves with long lances.
Likewise, when the infantry advanced along the causeway, in-
stead of abiding our attack, the enemy threw themselves into
the water and escaped by swimming or into their canoes, re-
turning incessantly to the attack. We were thus engaged for
more than an hour to no useful purpose, the enemy con<
tinually increasing in number, by reinforcements from every
part of the lake ; and our allies, instead of being serviceable,
only encumbered the causeway and hindered our movements.
Finding that we were unable any longer to resist the multi*
tude of enemies who assailed us perpetually from the water,
and almost with entire impunity, we determined to re^
treat to our quarters in Tacuba, having eight of our men
slain and above fifty wounded, and were closely followed up
and much harassed by the enemy during our retreat. De
Oli laid the blame of the disaster of this day on the rashness
of Alvarado.
Next day ', though we were all extremely solicitous for
the two captains to remain together, De Oli proceeded with
his division to take possession of Cojohuacan, according to
the orders he had received from Cortes ; but this separation
was assuredly extremely ill judged ; as, if the enemy had
known the smallness of our numbers at the two stations, they
might have fallen upon and destroyed us separately, during
the four or five days that we remained divided before the ar-
rival of Cortes with the brigantines. In all that time we
never ventured to make any more attempts against the Mexi-
can causeways, but the enemy frequently sent bodies of their
troops to the main land to make attacks on our quarters,
on which occasions we always drove them away.
Sandoval
1 Acnrding to Clavigero, II. 163, the 20th of May 1531, on which day
C«ncs datca the commencement of this memorable siege.-— E.
tHAP. V. SECT. xili. In/ Hernando Cortes.
Wr
Sandoval with his division did not leave Tezcuco until the
fourth day after the feast of Corpus Christi *, when he
marched through a friendly country by the south side of the
lake, and arrived without uiterruption in front of Iztapalapa.
Immediately on his arrival, he commenced an attack on the
enemy, and burnt many of the houses in that part of the
town which stood on the firm land ; but fresh bodies of
Mexican warriors came over in canoes and by the causeway of
Iztapalapa to relieve their friends in the town, and made a
determined resistance against Sandoval. While the engage-
ment was going on, a smoke was observed to arise from a
hill above the town, which was answered by similar signals at
many other points around the lake, which were afterwards
found to have been made to apprize the enemy of the appear-
ance of our flotilla on the lake. On this, the efforts of the
enemy against Sandoval were much relaxed, as their canoes
and warriors were recalled to oppose our naval force j and
Sandoval was thus enabled to take up his quarters in a part
of the town of Iztapalapa ; between which and Cojohuacan
the only means of communication was by a causeway or mound
dividing the lake of Chaico from that of Mexico or Tezcuco,
which passage was at that time impracticable in the face of
the enemy.
f *• Before proceeding to the narrative of the siege of Mexi-
co, it may be proper to give some account of the situation
of the city of Mexico, and the mounds or causeways by which
it communicated with the land at the several posts which
were occupied by Cortes for its investment '. The city of
Mexico was built partly on an island and partly in the v/titer,
at the west side of^a considerable salt lake, named sometimes
the lake of Tezcuco, and sometimes the lake of Mexico, and
appears to have been about a mile from the firm land. It
communicated
Q Corpus Christi fell that year, according to Clavigero, op th* 30th May,
to that the occupation of Iztapalapa, by which the inveitment of Mexico
was completed, was on the Sd of June.
S The whole of this topographiical accoiint of Meicico and its approaches
is added by the editor, and has been placed in the text, distinguished hr in*
verted commas, as too long for a note. A plan is added, constructed itam
a comparison of the map* in Diaz and Clavigero, both evidently drawn
without any actual survey, and corrected by means of the excellent map pf
the vale of Mexico given by Humboldt. By meam of a great drain, made
comidcrably posterior to the conquest, the lake hat been greatly diminished
in magnitude, insomudi that die city it now above three miles from the
lake ;' 80 that the accurate map of Humboldt does not now serve for the
ancieut topography of Mexico and its ne»r environs.'^E.
169
Conquest of Mexico part ix. book ii.
comnsiiBic^^od^ith the land bv three inouBds cr CAuseways j
that of T^pgacac on the north, about three miles long, mea-
anring from; the great temple in centre of Mexico j that
usualty called of Iztmnli^ on the sooth, nearly five miles in
length s and that of Tacuba or llacopan on the west, about
tvo miks long,- likewise rieasuring from the temple ; but at
least a inil^ n^iy be abstri^rted from each of thei^e measure-
niait«, on account of the extent of the city from the great
temple to the commencr: lent of tlic causeways. About the
middle of the loutham causeway called that of tztapalapa,
another o^useway .branch < ' off obliquely to the south-east,
to the town of Cojohuaciui ! and at the place where these
two causeways united stood the town of Xoloc, partly on the
aides of the causeways, bi-t chiefly in the water intersected by
canals and ditches, Resides these three grand causeways for
communicating with the land, there was a smaller mound or
bout two miles south frofn the causeway of Tacuba, from a
town nanyed Chapoltepec, along which the aqueduct, or
pipes, for supplying Mexico with fresh water was carried ;
but this appears to iiave been too narrow for allowing b^y
passage, at least the Spaniards do not seem to have availed
themselves of it, in their long and arduous endeavourb to
force their way into Mexico. Near the south-west angle of
the salt lake of Mexico, it comnmnicated by a narrow neck
or strait with the fresh water lake of Cbalco ; and at their
•junction a mound or causeway had beep constructed across,
to prevent the admixture of the salt and fresh lakes, having
a town called Mexicaltzinco at the eastern extremity of this
mound. I^twalapa stood in the western end of the penitisu*"
la, between the lakes of Mexico and Chalco^ but on the
borders and in th^ waters of the former. The whole tertile
vale of Mexico or Anahuac, around these two lakes, and
. some others to the north of the great lake, was thickly plant-
ed with cities, towns, and villages, anfl highly cultivated, con-
taining and giving subsistence to a prodigious population.
The extent ot this extraordinary valley, elevated nearly 8000
feet above the level of the sea, is about 50 miles from north
to south, and forty miles from east to west; being surround-
ed on every side by ridffeo of lofty mountains, some of them
perpetually covered with snow, and rising to about 10,000
feet in perpendicular elevation above the ocean."
When Cortes brought out his fleet of brigantincsupon the
lake* he went in the fffst place to attack an msular rock close
■ ■ ' -■-„ ■ -' '.' : . -: - .. u.,-u....; jiij .^:. ..: beside
'.'"rtp;
CHAF. V. 9ECT. xiii. ^ Hermndo Cortes^
169
beside Mexico, on which a vast number of the inhabitants 4:^
that city and other places in the neighbourhood had taken
shelter. Inuuediatelj on perceiving his intentiom, their
whole force collected from every part of the lake, and pro-
ceeded against him in not less than 4000 large canoes fiul of
warriors. On perceiving this immense number of boats cooic^
ing to attack him, Ck)rtes withdrew with his brigantines into
an open part of the lake, ordering his captains to wait pa*
tiently for a breeze of wind which then began to blow. As
the enemy suppo&ed that this movement proceeded from fear,
they immediately closed up around the flotilla with 'shouts of
triumph. The wind now sprung up, and the whole fleet
made sail through the throng of canoes, plying their oars at
the same time, and run down and overset great numbers of
the Mexican canoes, compelling all the rest to fly for shelter
to the recesses and shallows on the borders of the lake. Af-
ter this, Cortes made sail to Cojohuacan ^, where he was a-
gain attacked by the Mexicans, both by means of their ca-
noes on the water, and from their temples on the land : But
Cortes brought four guns to bear upon them, by which he
did considerable execution. During this action his powder
magazine blew up, owing to some mismanagement of tbj gun-
ners, by which many of his people were wounded. This un«
fortunate accident ooliged him to detach his smallest brigan-
tine to Sandoval for a supply of ammunition. He remamed
at Cojoiiuacan for two days with the flotilla, repairing the in-
jury his ship h?jd sustained from the explosion.
Wheii. we r/ere assured that the flotilla was out upon the
lake, Alvarado marched out with our division to the cause-
way of Tacuba, as far as uhe bridg<>, in which we were con-
stantly engaged wiih the enemy to very little purpose, except
that we repaired the passes in our rear as we au vanced, and
did not now suffer the rivalry to come upon the causeway,
as we had found by experience that they were of very little
service, and besides that their horses were exposed to much
danger. Finding that he could not sufficiently annoy tlie
enemy
4 It is hard to guess which way the brigantines could get there, as by the
maps both of Diaz and Clavigero^ the great double causeway of Xoloc or
Iztapalapa, ought to have completely prevented his penetrating to that part
of the hke. ft was probably Xoloc against which this attack was irade,
an^ Diaz may have mistaken the name after au interval of fifty-one years ;
torso' .ng intervened between the siege of Mexico in 15S1, and 157?, when
he informs ue his history was concluded.— £.
1 li
hro
Conquesi qf Mexico part ir. book ii.
■
fnemy in his prtient post at Iztapalapa, where the Mexicans
had possession of the nouses which were built in the water,
Sanooval advanced by a causeway to a more commanding si-
tuation '• When this was noticed from Mexico, a large de-
tachment of warriors came over in canoes, with orders to cut
the causeway in the rear of our troops. Cortes observed this,
and immediately made sail with his vessels to the relief of
Sandoval, giving orders at the same time to De OK to march
a body of troops by the causeway for the same purpose. Hav-
ing relieved Sandoval by these means, Cortes ordered htm to
remove with his division fiom Iztapalapa to Tepeaquilla or'
Tepdacac^ where the chnrch of our Lady of Guadalupe now
stands, in which many voaderful miracles have been per-
formed.
As it was impoi' - for our troops to advance on the cause-
ways, unless their ^^; xs were secured from attacks by water,
the flotilla was a^jpointed this service in three divisions,
.one of which was attac] eu iv. each of the three detachments
of our land force : Ji'our brigantines being allotted to Alvara-
do, six to De Oliy aqd two to Sandoval^ ; twelve in all, the
thirteenth having been found too small for service, and was
therefore laid up, and her crew distributed to the rest, as
twenty men haa been already severely wounded in the several
vessels. Alvarado now led our division to attack the cause-
way of Tacuba, placing two brigantines on each flank for our
protection. We drove the enemy before us from several of
their bridges and barricades ; but after fighting the whole
day, we were obliged to retreat to our quarters at night, al-
most all of us wounded by the incessant showers of stones
find arrows of the enemy. We were continuallv assailed on
the causeway, by fresh troops of warriors, carrying different
banners or aevices ; and our briganiines were excessively an-
noyed from the terraces of the houses which stood in the wa-
^er ; and as we could not .leave a party to keep possession of
what we had acquired during the day, the enemy repossessed
themselves of the bridges at night, and repaired and strength-
ened their parapets and other defences. In some places they
deepened
S Perhaps along the mound or causeway of Mexicaltzinco ; by whicji he
upproached towards the great causeway of Xoloc, and the position of De
Oil at Cojohuacan. — £.
G Though not mentioned by Diaz, this necessarily implies that one of
the bridges of each causeway must have been taken possession of by ii\e
Spaniards, to allow the brigantines to get through into those parts of th9
lake which were intersected by the causeways. — E.
3^-'
CHAP. V. SECT. XIII. 6tf Hernando Cortes.
171
deepened the water, digging pits in tbe fhaOow places, and
placing the canoes hi ambush, which tiiey secured against
tbe approach of our brigantines by means of pallisades under
water. Every day we were ernpfoyed in the same manner,
driving the enemy before us, and every night we returned tp
our qiiartars to bmd up our wounds. The cavaby were of
no service, on account of the barricades defended by long
lances ; and the soldiers even did net choose to risk their
horses, as their price at this time was from eight hundred to
a thousand crowns. One Juan, a soldier from Catalonia, used
to heal our wounds by charms and prayer;^, which by tbe
ti\f^xcy of God recovered us very fast ; and this being obser-
ved by our allies, all their wounded men applied to Juan, who
had more business on his hands than he was able for. But
whether whole or wounded, we were obliged to go out daily
again! t the enemv, as otherwise our companies would have
been reduced to less than half their strength. Our ensign was
disabled almost every day, as he could not at the same time
carry his colours and defend himself from die enemy. We were
abundantly supplied with corn, but were mucli in want of re-
ireshments for the wounded men ; our chief resource being
tunas ox Indian figs, cherries while in season, and a plant
called quilities by the natives. The situation of the other
two attacks was precisely similar to ours. Every dav, when
we marched to the attack, a signal was made from tne great
temple of Tlalteldco, the great division of Mexico nearest
Tacuba, on which the enqtny rushed out against us, and were
c<mtinually relieved by fnesh troops, marching out in succes-
sion. Finding that we gained nothing by these daily attacks,
we changed our plan ot operations. On our causeway there
was a small open space, on which stood some buildings for
religious worship, where we formed a lodgment, and estab-
lished a post, leaving our cavalry and allies to secure our rear
in Tacuba, whence we were su{^ied with [vovisions. Though
very badly lodged in this place, as every shower of rain came
in upon us, we maintained this post and advanced a little to^
wards the city every day, filling up the trenches which inter-
sected the causeway, and pulling down the houses oq each
side, and using their materials to strengthen our defences.
We found it extremely difficult to set the houses on fire, nor
could the flames communicate from house to house, as all the
houses were separated by canals and ditches. During this
operation we were subjected to great danger, as the enemy
de|itroye4
1
nt
Conquest qf Mexico fAVt i|, popx ii.
I
6e$trqrf^ VA (toja thefr tofracea when we endeavoured tQ
iwina Qvir froin the (^us^way \o these detuched hovises.
In this miffline? we gained some ground eiety day, which
we vtpfortA by parapets and other defences, and prescfveq
«faritw the nignt Every evening at sunset, the company
whic^was first for duty, was entrusted wi^h the advanced
post, to which they sent forty pien ; the second company
sent an equal ptfmber at m^night, and the relieved guard
did not quit their post, bi)t haq to remain sleeping on the
ground ; the third company did the same the same two hours
before day-break, and the second nqw lay down to sleep, so
that we now had ISiO men on auard* Sometimes oi|r whole
detachment had to remain unc^r arms the whole night, espe-
cially on the following occasion : \Vc learnt from some of our
prisoners, that the Mexicans intended to force our post by a
freat effort, which would have frustrated the other two attacks,
or this purpose, all the warriors of nine towns around the
hike, including those of Tacuba, Izcapuzalco, and Tcnajocan,
were by a joint attack upon our rear to carry oil' our baggage
«nd destroy our bakery in Tacuba, while the Mexicans were
to assail us in front on the cau!>eway. We immediately comr
municated this intelligence to our cavalry and allies i\i head-
quarters, warning them to keep on the alert. In pursuance
<Mf this pkn, we were attacked both in front and rear for se-
veral sttccesuve nights, from midnight to day-break. Some-
times the enemy came on with a prodigious noise of shouting
and military instruments, and at other times stole upon us in
profound Mlence ; but their night attacks were never made
with so much resolution as those during the day. Yet we
were harassed to death with continual watching, ihtigue, and
wounds, and constantly exposed to cold winds and aunost in?
■ceasont rain. Our poist was reduced to a mere plash of mud
and water, and our (m\j food was maize and miserable herbs.
When we complaidaed, the only comfort given us by our offi-
cers, was that Kuct is the fortune of war. Yet all our efforts,
fatigues, and privations, were of litde avail ; as the parapets
wo destroyed and the ditches we filled up during tne day,
were uniformly replaced next night by the enemy.
The destruction of the aqueduct of Chapoltepec, from
which so much had been expected, by cutting off the water
which supplied the city- of Mexico, was unavailing, neither
could we starve them into a surrender, as they were regular-
ly supplied with every things they wanted by means of their
) i#t canoes
li
)0K n,
ired tQ
which
esefvea
impany
Ivance4
impany
I guard
on the
p hourt
leep, sp
|r whole
ht, cspe-
le of our
08t by a
) attacks,
lund the
(najocan,
baggage
;ans were
tely conir
gt head-
>ursuance
ar for se-
Some-
ehouting
ion us in
er made
Yet we
eie, and
lost in-
of myd
tie herbs,
our offi-
fur efFt»»t»,
narapets
the day,
jec, from
le water
, neither
regular-
of their
canoes
CHAP. V. Sect ; kill, b^ Heman^ dorfes»
ITS
canoes from the towns around the lake. In order to prerent
this, two of our brigantines- were ordered to cruize eveiy
night oil the lake, to intercept ihene supplies. This mgasuro
answered the purpose in some degree, out not effectually, a«
some of the canoes escaped itM;o the city every night. At
tliis time the Mexicans laid a plan to surprise our two cnua-
ing brigantines. Havinff concealed thirty of their largest
piraguas among some tall reeds on the borders of the l^e,
they sent several canoes, as if carryiiiff provisions, to decoy
our vcssds into the snare, and even nxcd a number of loj^
wooden piles under water at the place to which our vessels
were to De inveigled. On the appearance of the decoy-ca«
noes, our two vessels made immediately to^yards them, the
canoes rowing away towards the ambush followed by our
brigantines. As soon as they arrived at the place, tije thirty
piraguas immediately sufoundcd them, and wounded every
f>fBcer, soldier, and mariner on board, by their first flight of
arrows. Our vessels could not move on account of the piles,
and the enemy continued the assault with the utmost vigour.
One of the captains, named ( .rtilla, was slain, and Captain
Pedro Barba, the commander of our crossbows, dkd of his
wounds. This ambush completely succeeded, as tlic two
brigantines fell into the hands of the enemy, lliey belonged
to the principal division of our flotilla, which was command-
ed by Cortes in person, who was ivoch exasperated by the
loss ; but he soon repayed the enemy In their own way. He
constantly sent out some vessels every n)((/ii to scour the lake,
end on one occasi<m they brought in some prisoners of con-
sequence, fram whom he learnt that the enemy had formed
another ambuscade of forty large piraguas and as many ca-
noes. He now laid a plan to turn their schemes against
themselves ; for which purpose he sent six vessels one night
with muffled oars, to conceal themselves in a water-cut at the
ed^e of the lake, covered with bushes and tall reeds, about a
quarter of a league from the ambushment of the enemy. A
single brigantine was then sent out early in the morning, as
if in search of the canoes which carried provisions to Mexico,
and having the prisoners on board to point out the place
where the enemies fleet lay concealed. Hie enemy sent as
before spme loaded canoes to decoy the brigantine towards
the ambush, and our vessel pursued them until near the
place, where it lay-to, as il' fearful to approach. The Mexi--
can fleet now salhed out upon them, and our brigantine row-
ed
!\
\
If:
I
1^ )
174
Qmyiutt qfli/{exic9 raxt ii. book n*
i * ■
•d swiiy towards the plaee where the six others were conceal-
«d, dosely foHowed up by the enemy. When arrived near
enough, the brigantme £ired two shots as a signal, on which
the ouer vessds pushed out against the enemy, runninff down
many of their vessels, dispersing all the rest, and making a
great number of prisoners. This sickened them at ambush-
ments, and from nenceforwards thdy did not attempt to crow
the lake in their canoes so openly.
Our three divisions of the land army continued to pursue
their plan for gradually advancing along the causeways. Al-
ways as we jonuned ground, we pulled down the houses on
each side, mling up the ditches or canals which intersected
the causeways, and strengthening our posts ; in which, and
in all the operations of the war, we were excellently seconded
by our brave Tlascalan allies. On our attack, the Mexicans
brrke down one of the bridges in the rear of their own bar-
ricades and parrapets, leaving one narrow passage at a place
where the water was very deep as a decoy, and even dug
trenches and pitfidls where the water was more shallow, plan
cing pallisades in the deep water to prevent the approach of
our vessels, and constructing parapets on both sides of the
breach. They had also a number of canoes in readiness to
sally out upon us on a concerted signal. WIm n i ! these pre-
parations were in readiness, they made a c uil ined attack
upon us in three several directions. Oin: byiy ^> Jvanced to-
wards our rear from the side of Tacuba, a ^sccofTd cHrectly on
our front along the causeway from the city, and the third by
the r.:'i - of the houses whicn we had destroyed. We repul-
sed tl.e ii.emy on all sides; and one party of us, havinc for-
ced them from the works^at the broken bridge, crossed the
water up to our necks at the place they had left open for us,
and rashly pushed on to an open place where tliere were
some laree temples and torvers. We were here assailed on all
sides by fresh troops from the houses and terraces, and those
whom we pursued faced about and fought us in front. We
now found it necessary to retreat, which we did with the ut-
most order till we came to the pass at the broken bridge,
which was occuined by tlie enemy in canoes ; and as tne
others pressed upon our rear, we were forced to throw our-
telves into the lake and to get over any way we could. Tliose
who could not swim sot entangled among the concealed
ditches and pits in the shallow water, where the enemy closed
in upon us, wounding the whole party, and even taking five
u
loeal-
near
which
down
jng a
tbush-
»croM
Quntte
. Al-
ses on
rsected
b, and
conded
^cans
ftn bcr-
a place
en dug
•w, plar
oacn of
i of the
Sness to
leae pre-
1 attack
iced to-
■ectly on
third by
e repui-
vinff for-
ssed the
a for us,
>re were
led on all
ind those
lit. We
li the ut-
bridge,
OS the
•ow our-
. Tliose
joncealed
ly closed
,king five
of
CHAP. V. SECT. XIII' bif Herttando Cortet,
17*
of our f >Mier8 alive. The vesseln which came to our relief
were na ')'e to approach, on account of the paltisades, and
they lost iwo of Uieir soldiers on this occasion. It was won-
derful we were not nil destroyed nt this danserous pass. At
one time I watt laid hold of by a number ot the enemv ; but
God gave me strength to disengage my arm, and with the^ '
assistance of my good sword, I extricated myself from their
f'asp. Though wounded, I escaped to the dry ground, where
fainted and remained for some time insensible, owing to my
great exertions and the loss of blood. When the enemy had
me in their clutches, I recommended myself to the aid of
dod and his blessed Mother, and they heard my prayer :
Glory be to them for all their mercies I From the time that
we hod cleared the flanks of our post by the destruction of
the houses, Alvarado had brought a part of his cavalry thi-
ther ; and one of them, who had crossed along with us at the
broken bridge, lost both his horse and his own life. Fortu-
nately all the rest were then with Alvarado in Tacuba ; for
if they had been with us they must have all been destroyed
from the tops of the houses and temples, as the action took
place almost within the city of Mexico. The enemy was
much elated by the success of this day, and continued to as« .
sail our posts day and night. Cortes was much displeased
at the defeat we had sustained, which he attributed to our
having neglected his orders ; which were always to fill up the
cuts in the causeway as we advanced, by means of timber and
rubbish.
In the space of four days, counting from our late defeat,
we filled up the great aperture at the broken bridge, and
established our advanced post at this place, bitt lost six of our
soldiers in the course of this operation. Tlie enemy esta-
blished a post directly in .fi'ont of us, which they secured by a
ditch and parapet, so as to protect themselves from our shot.
They made a large fire ui front of their post, by which they
were concealed from our vi£^v, except when they had occa-
sion to renew the fire, which was sometimes extinguished by
the frequent heavy rains which prevailed at this season. Tliey
kept profound silence on guard, except when interrupted by
loud whistling, which they used as signals. Every morning
we marched against the enemy, with whom we fought during
the whole day, and retreated to our post towards evening,
covered with wounds. Before retreating, we sent back our
allies, whose numbers embarrassed us in the narrow causo-
'
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06
"Conpua qfMekicd MlKt ii. lObK ir*
n
wajTp aad Ump fell bajc|c step bgr >t^t ^1^^ V ^^^' •nn«l
bri^tiiies, and firiqg on tiie enmy a^ th«y |)riesscd i^n dt
' Aly>^ t]|^ dnie, the itihabij^ii^ the lake
ijrevr Vewry of the lotigprotra^ted waiftf^* and sent depntar"
tion«,fo pur ipneiral, ^riog tQ submit theihselvei to his au-
^Higr* aiid aeclarihfft&at they had been constrained by the
Haucaha to persist hi^icXIo in uieir hostilities against iu»
Corteaf^ived Uiem very graciously, and assttrecT theib of
loa'prpl^on, providing that they should conduct th^tnselTies
properly for the future, and j^ve nlih th^r.attistance by sup*
plying (Canoes and proviuohs tQ our armjr, and in the cou^
■Iructiop'of barrack^ for the troops.' Tbey readity promised
alt this, but performed Very badly. Cdrtes had huts built
ime hit detachment ^ { but the rest of us remained exposed to
Ihie weather, which was exceedingly severe and distressing,
as it rained almost incessantly during June, July, and Au-
Our detachment, on the causeway of Tacuba continued our
i^roash towards Mexico, filliug up every ditch and canal
as we advanced by meankof the materials of the houses which
pre (festroyed ; and we ev^^ry day gwned po^itession of temples
or houses, which stood ^lart from each other, and of the
lurid0esby which they communicated. To avoid Jealoi^r,
our three companies took the duties of workinj^ ana ii|;htinff
alternately, our allies givii^ most import«nt assistance m pnl-
£ng down the houses and filling up the ditches and cross-cuts
of uie causeway. Every evening the whole of our men stood
to their arms, and we sent oflTour allies before us, before re-
treating to our post for the night. During all this time,
3{mdovaI, who carried on his approach firom Tepgaciac, was
bUiged to sustain continual attacks from the 6neihy ; as like-
wise was Cortes, who now commanded at the third attack.
Oa his side there was an out-post of the Mexicans, at a
5 lace where one of the apertures in the causeway was too
eep to be forded, and wnich had been strongly fortified by
the enemy. He made a successful attack on this place, where
he commanded in person, although the enemy mode a brave
resistance both by land and water ; but he was obliged to re-
tire
7 Thoa^h not npecially mentioned by Diaz, it appe&n that Cortea bad
taken the immediate command «f the detadunentotJDe Oli, at Cojohua-
can« which formed the touthern attackr~>£.
itiOK. IT*
r' iTiiied
lipKm til
the 1ak»
td«putai»;
J hi» att-
edbythe
winst tt8»
[ theitt of
cc by i«p-
1 tJie ooii-
r promised
bat> Mt
exposed to
di>tres8iiig»
^ and Au-
Qtinued our
h and canal
»ou«e«whicb
n of temples
and of the
ttdjeatottsy,
nwidfifjbtinff
Ltance m pul-
id ctoMrcnt*
ir men stood
,, before re-
U this time,
>pqaeac, was
ihy; itolike-
tVurd attack.
WicanSf at a
,ay vas too
fortified by
place, where
mode a brava
jbliged to re-
tire
|thatCort«^*«*
)li, at Goi«)hu*-
tteAP. v. 8KCT. xiix. btf HernanS& Cfortes.
m
tire at night without fifling up thfe ditch, and he lost four
Spaniards killed, and had aboVe thirty wounded, the paisa
being commanded from the terraoes of severai houscb in the
water, and his brigantines were unable to get forward to pro-
tect his 0ank8, owing to the piles which the enemy had takd
under water. Ouatimotzin and his Mt-xicans defended them-
selves with amazing bravery and resolution, trusting to wear
U9 out and destroy us by continual assaults. On the 2ist of
June, the anniversary of the day of our first entry into Mexi-
co, the fenemy assailed us at every point of all our three at-
tacks, both by land and water, in front, flanks, and rear, a-
bout two hours before dav. The numbei' fit for dutv at our
post on the causeway of 'lacuba was 120 men, and all the
allies attached to our detachment, were as usual off the cause-
way during the night It was with the utmost dilficulty that
we were able to resist and repulse the enemy, of whom a great
number were killed and wounded, losing two of our own sol- ,
diers. The enemy repeated their dssaults on all the posts
for two other nichts successively ; and on the third morning,
just at day-break, they concentrated their whole force and
made a desperate attack on our post. If our allies had been
with us we should have been all lost. On this occasion our
cavalry saved our rear, and our brigantines did sienal service
by clearing our flanks. Afler a most severe and long doubt-
ful contest, we beat off the enemy and made four of their
chiefe prisoners, eight of our soldiers being slain in this tough
affiur. I fear my readers may be tired of this constant repe-
tition of battles, which my duty of historian compells me to
relate : But if I were to give an account of every action which
took place during the ninety-three dtiys in which we were en-
gaged in the sieee of this great, s^.rong, and populous city,
every day and tught of which time brought a perpetual suc-
cession of batties and assaults, my Work would be without
end, and woidd more resemble Amadis dc Gaul and oth^r
romances of chivalry than a true history, which it really is.
Cortes became impatient of delay, and proposed in a coun-
cil of war to make a general assault on the city, marching at
once by all the three causeways, and uniting our whol^ force in
the great square, whence we could command all the streets
leadnig to that centre of Mexico. Some of the members of
the council objected greatly to this plan, giving the prefer-
ence to our present system of advancing gradualty, filling up
the ditches as we proceeded, and destroying the houses to
▼OL. IV. M make
I
i
178
Conquest (jfMesHco part ii. book u.
make nfads and defences of their materiab. They aUeged
that if we were to micoeed in finrcin^ our way into the great
square} we should in our turn be besieged in the heart oi the
city, exactly as we had been before our flight finom Mexico,
and be involved in much greater difliculties than now } as the
enemy woukl be enabled to environ us with their whole force
by land and water, and would cutoff all possilnlity of our
retreat, by cutting throiwh the causeways. But Cortes, after
hearinff all these well rounded reasons, still adhered to his
own plan, and issued orders for the whole army, including
the alliee, to attadc the city next day, and to use our utmost
eflB>rts to get possession of the great S(]uare. On the next
morning thereibre, having^ recommended oui'selves to God
in the solemn service of the mass, all our three detachments
marched to attack the posts of the enemy ou their several
fronts. In our attack commanded by Alvarado, most of the
l^aniards were wounded at the first ditch and par!4)et of the
enemy ; one S^niard was slain, and above a thousand of our
allies were killed ox wounded. In the attack commanded by
Cortes in person, he (Carried every thing before him at first,
and having driven the enemy from a post where the water
was very deq> and the causeway very narrow, he imprudently
pushed on after the enemy followed by die Indian allies.
The enemy induced him by frequent halts and feigned resi»>
tance to continue the pursuit, having even narrowed the
causeway on purpose, »' ' Tortes negligmtly omitted to fill up
the deep ditch which t d passed. When the enemy per-
ceived that our generm ^ad fallen into the snare which they
had laid for him, they attacked him with fresh troops in front,
while numerous canoes filled with warriors issued out at an
appointed »gnal and assailed him both^on the flanks and rear,
his briganunes being unable to approach for his defence by
the palfisades wider water. Retreat became now indispen-
sably necessary, which was at first conducted with perfect regu-
larity; but when they came to the narrow partof thecapseway,
which was all covered with mud and water, the retreat
changed to an absolute flight, our pec^Ie flying firom the ene-
my with their utmost speed, without even attempting to defend
themselves. Cortes used every efibrt to rally his men,
but all in vain, and was wounded in the 1^ at the narrow
pass by some of the enemy firom the canoes. At this pass,
six of our horses were killed, and seventy-two Spaniards were
i'nrried off alive. At this moment six Mexican chieft seized
' --^ Cortes,
1
»KU.
CHAP. T* SBCT* XIII. Igf Hemondo Cortes,
Vt9
great
rfthe
exico,
as the
i force
of our
i, after
to his
:ludiiig
utmost
le next
o God
hments
' several
tof the
It of the
d of OKT
ndedl^
t at first)
he water
irudently
in alUes.
ledresis-
wed the
to fill up
emy per-
lich Uiey
in front,
lut at an
, id rear,
ifence by
indispen-
fectregU'
iiueway*
|e retreat
the ene-
:o defend
lis meU)
le narrow
[this pa8»i
lards were
iefssmed
Cortes,
Cortes, but by the will of God, Christoval de Oiea, that valiMit
soldier, and another brave man named Lenaa flfw to tba
rescue of our general. De Olea killed torn oi the chieft with
his own hand, and gallantly lost his life m defence of Catpm,
while Lenna narrowly esci|>ed. Othw brave soldiers arriiieil
at this moment to his aid, among whom was Quinones the
captain of his guards. By these men he was lifted out <tf the
water and hurried off from among a crowd of the eaagmj.
At this critical moment, Guzman his majordomo, brought v^
a horse on which our wounded general was mounted. The
raeny followed up their success with increasing ardour, Cat^
tes and the shattered remains of his troops, retreating to their
quarters with the utmost difficulQr, pursued to the hut by the
Mexicans. ■ i ■,.■.
A&et our ^ni attack, in which we defeated the enan^and
drove themfirom their post, we were met by fresh bodies of
the enemy, inarching in great parade, bearing rich plumes of
feirthers and ornamented standards. On oominc near, they
threw down before us five Ueeding heads, saying these were the
heads of Cortes and his officors, and that we should soon meet
ihe same fiite. They then mardied i^, and fought us hand to
hand with the utmost valour, insomuch that we were at length
compelled to retreat. As usual, we gave orders to omr allies to
clear the way^ by retreating before us ; but the ught of the
Idoody heads had done this efiectually, and not a man of them
remained on the causeway to impede our flight. Our cavahy
made several charaes this day, but our great safety depended
upon two gune wmidi raked the whole causeway,, and were
admiraUy inana|B|ed by Pedro Morena, an excdlent <^cer,
whose services this day were singularly useful, as the whole
causeway was crowdea by the enemy. Befixe we arrived at
our quarters, and while pursued by the enemy, we heard the
shrill timbals and mournful sound of the sreat drum firom die
the summit of the temple of the ood of war. The priests
were thai sacrificing tne hearts often of our companions to
thdr. accursed idols, and the sound of their dismal drum,
whidi might be heard at almost three leaoues off, might be
imagined to be the music of the infernal deities. Soon after
this, the horn of Gnatimotzin was heard, giving notice to the
Mexican officers either to make prisoners of Uieir enonies,
or to die in the attempt. It is utterly impossible to describe
the fiiry with which they assailed us on hearing this dreadfiil
Mgnal, though the remembrance is itiU as lively as if now
' passing
m
190
Omquid ^MexicB
vktat n. BOOK n^
jfljiiiite bttfa^eiaiet' 1 can only siqr, tiwt it w« th* good plMk*
Sdte 6? Ood llMit we got back in safety to our poal { praiMd
bci Ms lii^Ksy tfw and for War. Auien I We were ignocant
of the fiite of otor other dctaehmeiMs. Sandovat was niere
thiiil half a featfoe froti» tu, and Cortes still favther. The
niiiimdwiy siflfit of the heads of our countrymen, and tho
Ms^dne or our br^;antincs, in- - which three of otur sol»
^BifeM'wevfrslain^ fitted its with melancholy, and we abnost
1lk»tt|^t t&iae we had readied the hut hoar of our Kves. Our
(Ji^fttured vIMMI' was afterwards recovered by Captain Xora*^
mlJb.- In Ule action of this day, Cajptain Caravajal, a most
^ant offleiei'4 had the honour of being the' first who broke
'^ivbligh the etvuniea pnllisades with his vessel : He now livfs
in La Poebla, and has been ever since entirely deaf, having,
,Im bis henritvg thia day by excessifve exertion.
;'- Most of die soldiers in the detaehment of Cortes were
wounded, • good many, slain, and a great nurobes taken pri^
Sonerst so twit OA his arrival in his quarters, whcse he wa»<
Immediately aUMiked, his men were little aUe to defend thenk*^
fidve#. To add to dietr'>distfew, the encmv thcew into theiir
wist (bur Ueei£i^ head*^ teving they Were those of! Alvaradiiv
wndovaH «iidtwd'Oth«^ offieera, in ordes to impreM the sol-
>€lien of Cortes with the bdief that the two other detachments
Hsld been, as roughly handled as their own. On b^okliii|;
lihia horrid 8|)ectacw, Covtes was severely agitated, and h»
h^tt sunk within him i yet he kept i^ appearances^ enooi»>
n^iw his men to stand to l^eir arms aim defend their post
i^inM the enemy; He now sent Tapia with three others
an horseback to our quarters, to ascertain oar situation.
The^f' were attacked on- tlieir way by several bodies of the
enemy, who had been sent out by uaatimotatn to obstruct
iHir communications ; but they feiced their waythrou^ and
feiind us engaged with the M^icatisk^t^^ito ^Mm
Oti his'^ side, Sandoval went on vietcnrioUAly tiH the defeat
of Gortes* when the enemy sent a pipiMvtul reinforoeBWBt
-iigiAinfst hlm^ by whom he was very vigoroui^ assailed; and
iii the first' aMattlt they killed two orhis men an4 wounded.
aH the rest, Sondoval himself r^ceivintftitroe- wounds, ope of
Which was on ^ head^ As they llad* done ^at^^ other
postS) the^ thlrew down sik Ueeding heads^ paotending tb^
wet« the heads of Cortea and his principal omeei^^ and thiteat^
enihg Sandoval and his men with asimflar fat«. Sandoval
was not to be intimidated, and encouraged hib men to behave
' themselves
•CHAP. V. 88cr. XIII. % Mbrmnd» Cmtts,
181
themielvef brav^i yet, seeing no diaiiee«fu]linuiUi tuor
•cew, he brougltt hig people bade to their «|iiMrten, many of
them being wonnded» bnt hoving atAj two dain. After uii|
tbnugli severely wonnded faimsel^ he left die 'Commands
bis quarters with Captain Lois Marin, and set out on bonder
back to have an interview with Giites. Like Tapia, be was
Irequendv attacked by the «neinytm the road« yet made hik
way to CJortcfl, whom he addressed with condek^e and asr
tonyiment, asking the occasion of bis severe misfortune.
Clortes laid the bhtme on Alderote, for neglecting to fill i^
np the bad pass where the enemy threw bis men into >oo^
fiiinion; but the treasurer denied the charge, saying that
Cortes had not given any such orders, but hurried on his
anen aiter the feigned retreat of the enemy. In fact Corteb
was much blamed for his rashness, and tor not sendingipp
aliies soon enough out of his way. About this time, Cortes
was agreeably surprised by the arrival of two of his brigaap
lines, which he had given over for lost. Cortes re^UMted
Sandoval to visit our quarters at llscuba, being uu^le to go
there himself, as he ^as apprehensive the brunt of the attack
anight now ^11 upon our post. Sandoval arrived about tbe
hour of vespers, when he tound us occupied in repelling dve
«nemy, some of them having attacked us by the causeway,
and others iirom tbe ruined houses. I and several other
soldiers were at this time up to our middles in the water,
eng'aging the enemy in defence of a l)r^;antine which had nih
aground, and of which the onemy were endeavourinff to
r*n possession. Jiist as Sandoval arrived, we got her moat
^ a great exertion, after the enemy had sbdn two of her
«rew and badly wounded all the rest. The enony contiilaed
their attack with (he utmost violence, and Sandoval received
a blow on die face with a stone. He' caUed out to us to re-
treat ; and as we did juit M back as fiut as he wished, bie
rqieated his orders, askinff us if we wished to have all thb
tevalnr destroyed. We mesx retreated to our post, and
thou|^ the two guns under Moreno frequently sw^ the
causeway, the execution diey made did not prevent the enenqr
-from purauii^ us to our works.
We remained for some tune at our quarters compiarativd^
at rest, recoutiting the events which had occurred at our pott,
and listenuig to a relation of what had taken place at the
two others. On a sudden, we wetse strudc by the horrifying
sound of the great drum, accompanietl by the timbals, horns,
and
tif
CbN^MfSl vfMuitO KABT II. BOOK II.
and tninpeti of the temple of the god of war : And, iliook<i
ing to teH I we ooold diidnctly lee our unfortunete ooohr
paaioiM who had been made priionen, driven bjr Uowi to
the wunmit of the diabdical temple. On their arrival at the
phtform, we could tee Uie niMarable Tictfam decorate^ for
aaorifioe* with phimcs offoathenon thdr heads, and fioia
ia thdr hands, when they were forced to dance to the inftfv
nal music beiiMre the accursed idols. ASwt this, we saw them
stretched on their hades on the stone of sacrifice, where
their hearts were cut out aliTe, and presented yet palpitating to
the damnable gods of the enemy, and their bodies drawn by
the feet down tne steps. ** O merciful Ood of Heaven," said
we amonff oursdves, ** sufier not that we too may be sacri-
Sby uese wretches I" My readers may concdve how
mt were our reflexions at this horrible scene, more ear
ly as we were utterly unable to afford the smallest aid
to our poor friends, whom we saw thus butchered before our
eyes. At this moment the enemy assailed our post in great
ntrce { but we maintained it with detenpined resolution, and
dixrre them back with^ much lots. Durina this assault,
they revOed us, saying that thdr ^pods oad promised
to deliver the whrno of iis into theur hands, and they
threw over some of the man^^ed remains of the horrible re-
past th^ had made on our countrymen, sendiitt round other
pOTtions among the nei^bouring towns* as a bloody memo-
jrialoftheir victory over us. Sandoval and Tapia, on their
return to Girtes^ rqwrted the valiant manner in which we
defended our post ; and Sandoval mentioned me in partlcn-
lar with i^robation, saying many handsome things of me,
whidi it would be improper for me to repeat, though the
&cts were perfectly well known to all the army.
Our new allies on the lake had suffered oomiderably from
the resoitment of the enemy, who had taken from them above
half their canoes: Yet soime ccmtinued firm in thellr alliance
with us, out of hatred to the Mexicans ; and others satisfied
themsdves.with looking on, without attempting tomolat
us. in conseaucnoe in our recent losses, having lost near
dghtymen, killed and prisoners, and seven horses, and al-
most all the rest ofus bieinff^imded, Cortes issued orders
■to cease from our attacks for four days. But the oiemy
continued their attiacks daily, and even sained ground, mak>
ii^ new ramparts and ditdieft. We nad a Seep ditich apd
■%^
eiuF. ▼. ucT. XIII. iy Hernando Cortes,
18S
very defensible rainparU in front of our pott i and during
tha cenotion from ofiepuv^opentionvt toe whole of oar
infitntipr kept guard on the cauwway erery nisht, ftuiked fay
our bngantinesy one half of our cavahy patroEng in Tac^ba,
and the other half on the causeway to protect our rear.
Eveiry morning we prqHtfed ourselyes to reutt the attacks 'of
the eiiemy, who continued every dav to sacrifice some of our
nU«erable ofunpanions. During their daily and incessant
attackst they reviUd us* saying* that their gods had promis-
ed to perniit them to destroy us all within eight davs } vet
that our flesh was too bitter to b^ eaten : And tnuy L be-
lieve that this was miracubusly the case. The thr^ts of Uie
Mexicans, and their declaration that their cods had promlt-
ed to deUver us into their hands in eight <Mys, had such an
effect upon our allies, combined with the bad appearance of
.our afl^rs, that they almost entirely deserted aom us afaNMit
this time. The only one who remained with Cortes, was
Suchel, otherwise called Don Carlos, brother to our ally, the
prince of Tezcuco, with about forty followers. T^e chief of
IJuexotzinco remained in the camp of Sandoval with about
^y of his warriors; and the brave Chichimecatl, with the
two sons of Don I^renzo de Vurgas of Tlascah, uid aboqt
^ghty TlascaUins, continued with us in the quarters of Alva-
rado. When they were asked the reason ofthe desertion of
their countrymen, they said, that the Mexican gods had
predicted our debtruction, and the younger Xicotencatl had
foretold from the first we should all be put to death i they
saw that many of us were kiOedan^ all wounded, and th^
had already had above twelve hun ^;\ of their own number
flain; And* considering us all devotjd to inevitable ruin*
they had fled to avoid sharing our fate. Thouj^ Cortes
secretly thof^ht there was too much rpason in what they
allured, he yet assumed a cheerful appeutanoe of perfect se-
curUy as to the ultimate result of the enterprise, and used
his ^tmost endeavours to reassure our remaining liiends,
turning Ae hopes and predictioosof the Mexicans and the
pnunifes of their false godn into ridicule, and had the good
prtune to jMrwiAde opr few remaining fi-iends to abide with
us. The Iqdian Vhn parlbs, or Suchel of Tezcuco, wIk>
was a braye urarrior. and a wise man, strongly represented
tp our general that he had hitherto acted on a most erro-
neous plan, especially considering the relative situations of us
and the enemy. ** If you put off their means of procuring
water*
SM
Cotujtiett of Mexico part ii. book if.
waUr md provisioiii," he obtorved, ** how it it poxiible that
tiie inpny tfi^^s * of wnrriopi can tiib»nt i fheir provi-
Yibh* mu«t be at hwt estpendccl : The water of their wcllt i» salt
MoA unwholesome, ana their only resource {• trioini the present
rainy season. Combat them, therefore, tiy meant of kunger
'«nd dilrst, and do not throw away your own force by unneces-
sary violence." Cortes embraceci Suchel, thanking him for
hiH salutary adyicei which, indeed had already more than
«noe occurred to ourselves, but we were too impatient to
iaet with so much prudence. Our general began therefore
to act upon this new system, ao judiciouoly recommended
by our n-iend of Teaouco, and sent orders to oil the de-
ladiments to confine themselves entirely to the defensive for
€he next three days. As the canoes of the enemy were
nuneroos, oar brigantines never ventured singly on tne lake {
and as ther had now found out the way to bieHk through
the pallisades of the enemy, by UHiiig both sails and oars
■when fevoured by the wind, we became absolute masters of
the kin, and wero able to command all the insulated houses
it any distance from the city ) and as the brigantines could
mm break through the paOisadea of the enemy, tliey could
l|hrays secure our flanks, while we were engiujied in filling
up die ditches in our fimnt, which we did eroctually in a
very few days, Coi'tes even assisting in person to carry
bettns and earth for that purnone.
£yery night of this period during which we remained
(Ml the defensive, the enemy continued their infernal ctre*
monies, secrificinff some of our unfortunate companions,
which we could mstinctly see os their temple was Dritfhtly
Skiminatedi the accursed drum ^ntinually stunned our
ears, and the shrieks and ydk of the muhitudes who sur-
yodnded the temple were at times perfectly diabolicaL
ChHstOvalde Guzman was the last executed, who remained
eighteen days in their hands. ' We learned every minute cir-
cvnsCatioe respecting these horrible sacrifices fixMn our prison-
er^ irho told us, that alter each successive sacrifice, their war
god renewed his promise of delivering us aU into their power.
Sometimes, even daring this period, the enen^ employed
some of our own crossbows against us, obliging our unJor>
tufiate companions who were in their custody to shoot them
Offj
a OnsiNne finrner o^osions the xiguipU hss been already explained si^
denoting eight thousand men.— E. 7
CMA^. V. sKcr. XIII. bif Henumdo Cartes.
185
power.
nploved
unfor*
H them
off;
laiaedu
off; but QUI* post was protected by the excellent management
of the two guHH by Morena, lUHi we every day advanced,
gniiiinff poueftsion of a bridge or a parapet. Our brigan-
tines abo were of infinite service, as they were oontinoally
imeix;(?ptiiig the canoes which carried water and provkions
to the enemy, and those which were employed in procuring
a oeituin nutritive substance from the bottom of the lake,
which, when dry, resembles cheese. Twelve or thirteen
days had now elapsed after the time when the Mexican
priest>- had predicted we had only eight days to live. Our
allies, therefore, recovered their courage when they saw the
fallacy of the prediction, and at the requisition of our steady
friend Suchel, two thousand warriors of Tezcuco returned to
our quartern, with whom came Pedro Farfan and Antonio
Vill treal, who had been left bv Cortes nt that city. About
the same time, many bodies oi warriors returned to ns from
Tlascala and other places in our alliance. After their re-
turn, Cortes called the chiefs together, to whom he made *
speedi I partly reprimanding them for having abandoned us,
and partly encouraging their future fidelity by confident
hopes of victory, and promises of reward, and concluded by
earnestly admonishing them not to put any of their Mexi-
can prisoners to death, as he wished to negociate peace with
Ouatiinotzln.
Though the heavy rains which fell at this season were
both incommodious and distressing to us, they operated in
our favour, as the enemy always relaxed their efforts against
us during their continuance. By slow but steady perseve-
rance, we had now considerably advanced into the city at all
the thtree attacks, and had even reached the welis of bradcish
water which the enemy had dug, and which we now destroy-
fA. Our cavalry could now act iredy through the whold
space which we had gained, as we had carefully levelled tfa^
causeway behind us, deptroying all the houses on each sido
from which we could be annoyed, and carefully fortified our
several fronts. Cortes ^eemed the present conjuncture fa-
vourable for offering peace to the Mexicans, and proposed to
three of our principal prisoners to cany a message to Ouati-
motzin to that effect ; but they declined the commission, al-
l^mff that he would put them to death. They were at
length prevailed upon to comply, and were instructed to re-
present to Ouatimotzin in the name of Cortes: ** That firam
respect to die family df the ^at Montezuma, and that h«
mig^t
r
IM
\
Conqneit of Mexico vast ii« boor i j.
mj^t prevent Uie destruction of the capital and tH^e km of
«o nwoy liyee, be was willing to enter into a treatr of peace
and amity i dciiring Ouatimotzin to reflect tiiat he and hit
people wtn now cut off from all supplies of water and prcH
visions { and that all the nations who had formerly been the
yassals of Mexico, were now in alliance with the Spaniards."
A great dc»l more wa« added, to the same effect, all of which
was perfectly nnderstood by the messengers. Before they
went into tne citv, thev required a letter from Cortes, to
serve them as a token of credence; with which they waited
on their sovereign, weeping and lamentinff themselves bitter-
ly, as they Itnew the aan^r to which they were exposed.
At first, uuatimotzin and his principal chieu were fillea with
rage and indignation at the proposal ; but he at la»t consents
ed to call a council <^ all tne princes, chiefs, ai4d principal
priests of the city, before whom he kiid the message of Cor-
tes, and even expreffsed his own inclination tp come into
terms of peace, considering the incffi(*«cy of their resistance,
the desertion of their allies, and the miseries to which the
people were reduced. The priests obstinately opposed every
idea of peace They represented the hostile conduct of the
Spaniards to their nation ever since they first came into the
pountry ; their profanatiop of the temples ai)d Jdob of their
gods) their injurious treatment of the great Montezuma,
and of all the pthpr prinpe9 who bad mllen under ' their
power ; the death of the two sons of Montezuma, the sei>-
zure of the royal treasures, and the destruction of the city.
They reminded Ouatimotzin of his own martial fame, which
would be sullied and disgraced by submission ; insisting that
all the offers of Cortes were onhr insidiously meant to en4
slave and. circumvent { and concluded by repeating the assu-
rances of victory which tliey had received from their oods,
Ouatimotzin yielded to these arguments, and declai»4 hi«
resolutbn to fight to the last : He gave order^f there^re, to
husband their provisions with the utmost frugality, to use
their utmost endeavours to procure 8um>lie8 unqer night, apd
to sink new wells in various parts of the city. Our army
had remained two days quietly in their posts, waitii^g an an-
swer to our pacific message. On the third, we wore furious-
ly assailed on all points by lar^ bpdies of the enemy, who
rushed upon us like lions, closing up as if utterly regardless
of their Jives, and ustnff their utmost efforts to make us pri-
soners i all the while, the horn of Ouatimotzin being cpnti-
m^un . V. nually
-■^.■'■..«yVr3» f_
CHAP. T. stcr. uii. bjf Hernando Cortes.
187
nuaDy toandadf to inmire them with fury. For seven dsyt
we were thus oontinaaU^ aMwiled : After watchinff all n^t,
we had to so into action every momlna at day-oreak i aid
haTinr fbu^t the whole day, we retired in the evening to ^
nuf«riible regale of maiae cucet, with tumu or Indian flgi,i
herbe, and agi or pepper. Our recent pacific offer was em-
ployed ai a ralgect or contempt, for vrfaich they rqiroached
ua as cowards { ' saying that peace belonged only to women,
aims and war to braye men.
It has been already mentioned, that the horrible fragments
of our wnstched companions had been sent round the pro?
vinces of the Mexican empire, to encourase them to rise in
support of the sovereign and his capital. In consequence of
this, a great force assembled from Matlatzinco, Malinalco,
and other places about eight leagues from Mexico, which
was intended for an attack on our rear, while Uie Mexicans
should attack us in firont. On the assemblage of this force,
they committed horrible ravages on the country in our rear,
pdxiuff numbjers of children in order to sacrifice them to
their idols. To disperse this hostile assemblage, Andres de
Tapia was detached with twenty cavalry and an hundred in-
fantry, and efiectually executed his commission, driving the
enemy back to their own country with great loss. Soon a&
ter his return, Ckirtes sent Sandoval with a detachment to
the assistance of the country around Quauhnahuac, or Cuer-
nabaca. Much misht be said of this expedition, were I
to enter into a detail: but it may suffice, that it was more
like a peaceable triumph than a warlike expedition, yet prov-
ed of most excellent service to us, as Sandoval returned ac-
companied by two chiefs of the nation againsl which he was
sent '. Cortes, aflcr these successes, sent a second message
to Guatimotzin, reminding him of the distresses to which
his people were reduced, and expressing great anxiety to
fMve the city of Mexico from destruction, which could only
be
r
9 Clavigero, 11. 180, luiiplie* the brevity lued bv Diaz on this occa«
lion. He uys that the chieft of the diitncts «i MathUiinco, Malinalco,
and Cohuixco came to Carte* and entered into a confederacy with him a-
gaintt Mexico ; by which meant, added to hit former alliancet, he waa
now able to have employed " more warriora agunit Mexico than Xerxea
did againit Greece." Clavigero everywhere dealt in menttroua ezag^era-
tioyi, while Diax it uniformly modeat, and within due boundt of credibili«
ty. ISven in the few miraclej of which Diaz maket mention, hit credulity
ia modestly guarded by devout fear of the hiriy office.— E.
I
188
Conquest nf Mexico part it. book ii.
f;
if
be done by immediate oubmission ; and to conrince him that
all hopet of assistance from his former allies were now at an
end, he sent thix message by the two chiefs who had accom-
panied Saudoval. Ouatimotzin refused any answer, but
sent bock the chiefH unhurt. The enemy continued their
daily assaults upon the advanced works of our several at-
tacks, increasing even in their fnry if iwssible, and exulting-
ly exclaiming, Tem'totx re de tastilla ! Tcnitotz axai a I
** What says the king of Castile ? What docs he now ?"
We still continued to advance towards the centre of Mexi-
co, rcffularly destroying the houses on both sides of us, and
carefully fortiAring our advanced poKt i and we now perceiv-
ed a considerable relaxation in the efforts of the enemy, who
were not so eager as formerly to open up the ditches ; yet
they continued to attack us with ihe utmotit fury, as if court-
ing death. But we too had now serious cause of alarm, as
our gun-powder was almost entirely expended. At this cri-
tical moment, and most fortunately for us, a vessel arrived at
Villa Rica with soldiers and ordnance stores, all of which,
together with the men, were immediately sent to Cortes by
Rangel, who commanded at Villa Rica. 'Hiis vessel be-
long«d to an armament which had been fitted out bv Lucas
Vasquez de AiUou, and which had been destroyed or dis-
persed near Florida. On the arrivol of this reinforcement,
Cortes and all the nrmy determined to make a grand push
for the great square in that part of the city called Tlaitelol-
oo, as it woula become an excellent place of arms, on ac-
count of some principal temf ios and other strong buildings
which were there «ituated. For this purpose, each of our
divisions continued their daily efforts to advance in our usual
cautious manner. Cortes got possession of a small square
in which were some temples, on the beams of which many
of the heads of our sacrificed companions were placed, their
hair and beards being much grown. I could not have believ-
ed tliis, if I had not myself seen them three days afterwards,
when our party had worked their way tp the same place, af-
ter having filled up three canals. In twislve days afterwards,
they were all reverently buried by us in that place where
the Church of the Martyrs is now built.
^ Our detachment under Alvarado continued to advance,
«nd at last forced the enony from the barricades th^ had
thrown np to defend the great square, which cost us two
hours hard fighting. Our cavalry was now of most essential
service
1;
cuAt< V. SBCT. xui. ly Htmando Cortex
189
aorviM in the lorg* ipace which wm now kud open, and
drove the enemy before them into tlic temple of the ood of
war» ^ich ttood in the middle of the great square. Alvara^-
do detcrminetl to gain ponseKsion of tne temple ^ tor which
purpose he divided nis forces into three bodies^ one of which,
commanded by OuCtierrez do Badajoz, he ordered to gain
possession of the temple, while with the 6thcr two he occu*
pied the attention of the enemy below. A large force of
the enemy, headed by the priebtt, occupied the platform of
the temple, with all its idol Honctuuries and galleries, and re-
pulsed the troops of Outtierrez, driving thuni down the steps.
The body to wliich I bt'longed was now ordered by Aivara-
do to their support. We advanced boldly to the assault,
and having ancended to the platform, we drove the enemy
from the p'^st, of which we took poHsession, setting tire to
their aboml.-^.uble idols, and planting our standard in triumph
on tlie summit of the temple. The view of this signal of
victory greatly rejoiced Cortes, who would ^in have joined
lis { but he was still a quarter of a league from the place,
and hod many ditches to fill os he advanced. In four days
more, both he and Sandoval bad worked their way up to
the great s(|uare of Tlaltelolco, where they joined us, and
thus communications from all our three attacks were opened
up to the centre of Mexico.
b Our attack on the temple was truly perilous, considering
the number of the enemy, the height and difficulty of the
ascent, and the fury with which they continued to fight a*
gainst us, even after we had attained the platform and set
their idols on fire, and it was night before we could compel
them to abandon the summit. The royal palaces were now
levelled with the ground, and Ouatimotzin had retired with
his troops to a more distant quarter of the city towards tlie
lake '". Still, however, the enemy attacked us every day,
and at night pursued us into our quarters ; and though ap>
parently reduced to the last extremity, they made no otter
towards peace. Cortes now laid a plan tor drawing the ene-
miy into an ambudi : For this purpose, he one night placed
30 of our cavalry, with 100 of our best foot soldiers, and
tv 1000
I
10 The whole western diriiion of Mexico called Tlaltelolco was now
in possession of the Spaniards, and probably destroyed by them to secure
their coromunications ; and the miserable remnant of the brave Mexicans
had retired into the eastern division, named Teoochtitlm.— £.
m
I
1
I
190
Conqttesi tf Mexico fart ii. book if.
I
1000 Tlascalans, in some large honaes which had belongod
to a principal nobleman of Mexico. Next morning he wait
in person with the reit uf our army to attack a poit at a
bridge, which was defended by a larae force of the Mexi-
cans. Afler continuing the assault ror some time, Cortes
slowly retreated with his men, drawing the enemy after him
by the buildings in which the ambush lay concealed. When
he had led them to a sufficient distance, he gave the coaoeri-
ed sigual, by firing two guns in quick succession. We im-
mediately sallied out, and having thus enclosed the enemy
between us, we made a terrible havoc among them, and
from that time they never ventured to annoy us on our
niffhtly retreat. Another trap was laid for the enemv by
Anrarado, which had not the same success { but as I was
now doing duty with the division which Cortes commanded
in person, I was not present, and cannot, ther^ore recount
the particulars. Hitherto we had continued to retreat every
niaht to the posts wc had established on the causeways,
wmch were at least half a league from the great temple ;
but we now quitted these posts, and formed a lodgment for
the whole army in the great square of Tialtelolco, where-we
remained for three days without doii^ any thing worth no-
tice, as Cortes wished to abstain from destroying any more
of the city, in hopes of prevailing on Ouatimotzm to accept
of peace. He sent, therefore, a message, requesting him to
surrender, giving him the strongest assurances that he should
continue to enjoy the sovereignty, and should be treated
with every honourable distinction ; and he accompanied this
message with a considerable present of provisions, such as
fowls, game, bread, and fruit. Guatimotzin pretended to be
inclined towards a pacification, and even sent four of his
principal nobles to propose an interview between him and
our general. But this was a mere stratagem to gain time
for strengthening his fortifications, and making preparations
to attack us ; as from the example of what hsud befaUen his
uncle Montezuma, and the suggestions of his advisers, he
was afraid to trust himself in our hands. The mask was
soon thrown off, and the enemy attacked us with such ex-
treme violence, and having taken us in some measure by
surprise, that thjy had some success at first, killing one of
our soldiers and two horses ; but in the end we drove them
back with considerable loss.
Cortes
»i
CHAP. ▼. SKcfr. XIII. fiy Hernando Cortes,
191
Ckri-tet now ordered us to proceed on our former system*
of advancing daily agunst ttiat part of the city which wds
occupied by Guatimotsin, fiUing up the ditches and destroy-
ing the houses as we proceeded ; and we accordingly gained
ground as formerly. Guatimotzin, on seeina this, made »-
nother offer of an interview with our generu, proposing the
conference might take place across a large canaL To this
Cortes readily assented, and went accordingly to the luppoint^
ed place, but Guatimotzin never appeared f instead of which
he sent some of his principal nobles, who said the king was i^
prehcnsive of beinc shot during the conference. Cortes ensa^
ed by the most solemn oaths uiat no injury should be offer-
ed, but all to no purpose. At this time two of these nobles
played a most ridiculous farce : They took out from a sack a
fowl, some bread, and a quantity of cherries, which they be-
gan to eat deliberately, as if to impress us with the belief that
they had abundance of provisions. When Cortes found
that the proposed conference was only a pretext to gain
time, he sent a message of defiance to Guatimotzin and re-
tired. For four days after this, we were not attacked by the
enemy ; but numbers of famished Mexicans used to sur-
round our quarters every night. Cortes pitied their wretdi-
ed situation, and ordered us to refrain from hostilities, al-
ways hoping that the enemy would offer terms of accommo-
dation. One of our soldiers, named Sotela, who had serv-
ed in Italy, was always boasting of the great battles he had
5een, and of the wonderful military engines which he was able
to eonstruct, and particularly that he could make a machine for
throwing stones, by which he would destroy the whdc of
that part of the city which Guatimotzin occupied, in a very
few days. Cortes was at lost induced to listen to him, and
all kinds of materials were brought for him to construct his
engine. Stone and lime was procured j the carpenters were
set to work to prepare timber ; two strong cables were made ;
and a number of large stones were brought, which the ma-
chine was to project. When all was ready, a stone was pla-
ced in the engine, and it was played off against the quarters
of Guatimotzm. But instead ot taking that direction, the
stone flew up vertically into the air, and returned exactly to
the place whence it was launched. Cortes was angry and
ashamed at the result, and ordered the machine to be de-
stroyed, reproaching the soldier for his ignorant presump-
tion. ^
g^^l^^iBis . > \ Sandoval
\
« *. (I.
19S
Conquer of Mexico part ii. book ii.
I
U\
*
Sandovid was now vent with tiie command of the flotUla,
to act aflauwt that division of the city in which Guatirootain
still htad out. He was ordered to spare the Mexicans
as much as pomible, bat to destroy all the houses and advan-
eed works which .the enemy possessed in the lake. On this
occasion, Cortes ascended to the high platform of the great
tonpte, attended by inany of his officers and soldiers, to ob-
serve the movements of the fleet Ouatimotzin, on observ-
ing the approach of Sandoval, became very apprehensive of
being made prisoner, and determined to attempt making his
escape. For tliis purpose he had already fifty large piraguas
in readineiss, on board of whichhe embarked witn lus fami>
ly, principal officers and courtiers, and all their most valu-
able effects, and endeavoured to escape by the lake to the
main land ; all the piraguas taking di£&rent directions, in
order to distract the pursuit of the brigantines. At this
time Sandoval was occupied in tearing down some houses,
that he might clear his way towards the quarters of Guati-
motzin, of whose flight he got immediate notice. He set
out therefore immediately in pursuit, giving strict orders to
all the captains of his brigantines to offer no injury or insult
to the royal fugitive { but to keep a watchful eye on that ves-
sel in which uuatimotzin was supposed to have embarked^
using every effort to take it, and paying no attrition to the
rest. In particular, he directed Garcia Holguin, who com-
manded the swifitest •sailing vessel of the fleet, to make for
that part of the shore to which it was supposed Guatimotzin
was most likely to go. Holguin accordingly fell in with se-
veral piraguas, one of which, from the superior appearance
of its structure and awning, he supposed to be that which
carried the king. He called out to the people on board to
bring to, but without effect, and then ordered his musketeers
and crossfbows to present. On seeing this, Guatimotzin
called out to them not to shoot, acknowledging who he was,
and declared his readiness to submit, requesting to be taken
immediately to the general, and entreating that his queen,
children, and attendants might not be ill treated. Holguin
received him and his queen with the utmost respect, placing
them and twenty of the nobles who attended them on the
poop of his vessel, setting such refreshments before them as
he had in his power, and ordered the piraguas which carried
the royal effects to follow untouche<l. At this time, poveiv-
ing that Holguin had made Guatimotzin prisoner, and was
v.;viiiifft*' , , carrying
v,„«niJ»-^.-
CHAP. y. SECT. XIII. by Hernando Cortes.
19S
carrying him to Cortes, SandoTal made a siffnal for all the
brigantines to close up wiUi him, and ordered his rowers to
exert every effi>rt to bring him up with Holguin. On get-
ting alongside, Sandoval demanded Guatimotzin to be de-
livered up to him, as commander of the naval force, butj
Holguin refused, and many high words passed between them.
One of the vessels was sent to inform Cortes of the great
event which had taken place, and by the same means he
learnt the dispute which had occurred between Sandoval and
Holguin. He immediately sent the Captains Marin and De
Lugo with orders to bring the whole party to his quarters on
the summit of the great temple, ordering them to treat Gua-
timotzin and his queen with the highest respect. In the
meantime, he ordered a state canopy to be arranged as well
ias he could, with cloths and mantles, to receive his prisonors,
and a table to be spread with such refreshments as could be
procured.
On the approach of the prisoners, Cortes went forward
to meet the king, whom he embraced with much respect,
and shewed all possible attention to his followers. The un-
fortunate monarch sinking under his affliction, addressed
Cortes as follows, with his eyes full of tears : ** Malinatzin I
I have done every thing in my power to defend my kingdom
and people, but all my efforts have been in vain, and I am
now your prisoner ; I request of you, thcr(i&re, to draw
vour dagger and stab me to the heart." Cortes used his
nest endeavours to console him, assuring him of his high e-
«teem for the valour and firmness he had exerted, that he
should continue to reign as formerly, and that he had only
; jrequired his submission when all reasonable hope of defence
'was gone, in order to avoid the utter destruction of his ca-
pital and people. Cortes then inquired after the queen, and
was told tnat she and her female attendants remained in the
piragua till their fate was decided. He then ordered them
to be sent for, and treated them with all respect. As the e-
vening drew on, and it threatened to rain, the whole royal
f fiimily was sent to Cojohuacdn, under the care of Sandovtd,
, and a sufficient escort. Guatimotzin was about twenty-three
. or twenty-four years of age, of a noble appearance both in
person and countenance, having large and cheerful features,
. with livjely eyes, and his complexion was very fair for an In-
voIn IV. N dlan.
M— .;^-M
i
■\
M
*
19i
f
I
11
Conquest ofMtxico paut ii. book. ii.
dmn. His queeu, who was the niece " of Montezuma, waa
young and very handsome.
. Tw whole onny was now ordered to withdraw from the
oreat temple of Tlaltelolco, and to return to thnr original
oead-quartera. Cortes proceeded to Cdohuacan, where he
took the command in person, sending Sandoval to resume
his station at Tepejacac, and our division, under Alvarado*
retired to Tocuba; Thus was tite important seige of Mexico
brought to • successful conclusion, by the capture of Guati-
motzm and his family at the hour of virapers, on the day of
St Hypolitns, 13th of August 1521. Glorified be our iJord
Jesu» Christ, and lus Holy Virgin Mother, Amen !
In the n^t after the capture of GuatimoUsin, about mid»
n^ht, there was the greatest tempest of thunder, lightning,
and rain I ever witnessed. But all the soldiers were as deaf
at if they had been an hour in a belfrey, and all the belL
ringinsr about their ears, l^s proceeded from the continue
Boise they had been accustomed to from the enemy during
the ninety'three days *'* of thb memorable si(^e : Some bring-
ing on their trocms to attack us pn the causeways, with loud
shouts, and shrill whistling ; oth(^rs in canoes assailing our
flanks { some at work on the pallisades, water courses, and
stone parapets, or preparing their maffazmes of arms, and
the shriek* mad yells of the women, who supplied the war-
riors witb stones, darts, und arrows ; the mtevnal noise of
their timbals, horns, and trumpets, and the dismal drum,
and other shocking noises, perpetually sounding in our ears r
All of which immediately ceased on the capture of Guati-
motzin. In consequence of the dispute betweea Sandoval
and
11 According to the genealogy of the Mexican klng» in Clavigero,. 1, 240^
duf princewt whose name wai Tecuichpotzin, was queen successively to
Iter uncle Cnitlahuatzin, and her cousin Guatimotzin. After the conquest,
•he became a Christian, by the name of Donna Elizabeta Montezuma, mar-
tying thice noble Spaniards ia succession ; and from her descended the two
noble fanuliet of Cano Montezuma, and Andrea Montezuma. Montezuma
Idt likewise a son, Don Pedro Johualicahuatxin Mohteizuma^ whose male
descendsnts failed in a ^eat'grandson ; but there are severar noble familiies
both in Spain and Mexico descended from that sovereign of Mexico in the
fsnale line.— E.
IS We have formerly sai't, on tihe authority of Clavigero, that the siege
of Mexico commenced oa the 30th of May, and as it ended on the isth o£
August, the siege, by this mode of reckoning, could only have last^^ 10
days. It is hi{^ly probable, therefore, that the commencement of the siege
must have been on the 13th of May, and the 30th c^ Clavigero may omy
beanerror of the press.— £. •
V.
1
m
CRAP. T. ncr. XIII. by Hemanth Corteg,
195
«
and Holguiii threatening unpleasant oouamieBoet, Corfaa
related to th«n from the Roman history the aiqpute between
Marias and 8yO»t about the cimture of lugurtha, whioh waa
ultimatdy productive of vary ntal dvil wars. He assured
them Uiat the whole affidr should be represented to the em-
Eror Don Carlos, by whose arbitration it should be decided.
It in two years aner, the emperor authorised Cortes to
besr in his arms the seven kings whom he had subdued,
Montezuma, Ouatimotzin, and the princes of Teccuoo, Cqjo-
huacan, Iztapalapa, Tacuba, and Matlatamco.
It is absolutely truth, to which I swear amen I that all tlie
lake, the houses, and the courts were filled with dead bodies,
so that I know not how to describe the miserable spectacle.
All tlie streets, squares, courts, and houses of Tlaltek»kx^
were so covered by them, diat we could not tdce a siiM^le
stq> without treadinff on or between the bodies of dead &•
dians. The lake ttoa the canals were lull of them, and the
stench was intolerable. It was for this reason that our
troops retired from the city immediate|y after the ca^^ture of
Ouadmotzin : Cortes was himself ill for some time, owing
to the dreadful effluvia arising from the putrifying bodies.
I have read the history of the destruction of Jerusalem, but
I cannot conceive that the mortality even there «cceeded
what I was witness to in Mexico ; as all the warriors from
the most distant provinces of that populous empire were
concentrated there, and almost the whole sarrispn was cut
off in Uieir almost perpetual oicounters wi£ us, or perished
of famine.
Our vessels were now in the best situation for service ; as
those on board had ready access to the houses in the water,
which were b^ond our reach, whence they carried away aU
the best of the plunder. Their crews also discovered a great
many valuable articles which the Mexicans had concealed
among the tali reeds on the borders of the lake, and they in-
tercq)ted a great deal that the inhabitants of the city endea-
voured to carry away in their canoes ; all of which was be-
yond our reach : Indeed the wealth which our mariners pn^
cured at this time was quite incalculable, as Ouatimotzin and
all bis chie& declared thfit far the greater part of the public
treasure fidl into their hands.
Soon aStac d« capture of Ouatimclon, it was ordered on
his suffgestion, that all the remaining inhabitants of Mexico
i^nrarMniove ^> the ncighboaring towns, in order to have
t
196
Conqugft ofMemco part ii. book ii.
• tte city cleared of the dead bodies, to restore its salubri^.
> In Gonseqoence of this order, all the causeways were fall for
three days and niffhts, of weak, sickly, and squalid wretches,'
men, women, anachildren, covered with filth, worn out l^
AunhM and disease, so that the sight was shocking in the ex>
• treme. When all were gone who had been able to get »-
> way, we went to examine the situation of the city, which
was as I have already described, in a most miserable state.
- All the streets, courts and houses were covered with dead
bodies, among whom some miserable wretches were crawling
about in the di^rent stages of the most oflfenoive diseases,
• occasioned bv fiimine, the most unnatural food, and the pes-
tilential smdl of the corrupting carcases. Even the trees
were strif^ied of their bark, and the ground had been every-
where' dug up in search of any kind of roots it might be
'able' to amrd. Not a dn^ of water could be any where
procured ; and though it was the constant practice of all
these nations to teaM: pn the prisoners they took in war, not
one instance occurred, in the midst of their octremc distress,
' of their having preyed on each other: and certainly there
never existed in ^he history of this world any inbtance of a
peq[}le who suffered so severely from hunger, thirst, and wai>>
mte, I must here observe, that in all our combats, the
■ Mexicans seemed much more anxious to carry our soldiers
away alive, that they might be sacrificed to their gods, than
to kill them.
h- After a solemn service of thanks to God for our victory,
Cortes determined upon giving a feast in Cojohuacan to ce-
lebrate our triumph, as a vessel had arrived at Villa Rica
with abundance of hogs, and a caroo of wine. He invited
all his officers, and all uie soldiers of particular estimation to
this entertainment, and we all accordingly waited upon him
at the time appointed. \^ien we came to sit down to din-
ner, Chere were not tables and covers prepared for more
than half of us, so that the company fell into sad confusion.
-I'he wine occasioned many to commit follies and other worse
thinffk Some leapt over the tables, who were afterwards
-uname to get out at the doors, and many rolled down the
steps, who could not walk home to their quarters. The pri-
vate soldiers, in high expectations of inunense plunder, de-
-ckii«d they would buy horses with gold trappings, and the
• crossbow-men swore they would hencieforth use only golden
arrows. "When the tabla werexonoved, the soldiers danced
'mH- : * " " ■;:-■■ in
BOOK II.
alubriQr.
ifuUfor
rretchet,'
1 ont by
I the ex-
oget a-
Yt which
ale itat*.
ith dead
crawling
diieases,
the pes-
the trees
en evenr-
might be
ly where
ice of all
war, not
i distress,
nly there
tnoe of a
and waF>
bats, the
soldiers
ods, than
victory,
an to ce-
dilla Rica
[e invited
mation to
ipon him
n to din-
for more
lonfosion.
her worse
f^erwards
down the
The prip
nder, de-
, and the
ly ffolden
rs danced
in
CHAP. ▼. SKCT. XIII. bjf Hernando Cortet.
I»7
in their armottr, with the few ladies who were present i but
the diH>raportion was venr great, and the scene oequne truly
hidicraus. Father Olmedo Decame quite scandaliaed at the^
conduct of Uie visitors at the feast, md was so disgusted at
what was going on during the dances, that he complained to>^
Sandoval, who reported to Cortes that the good father was , ,
grumbluig and scolding out of all measure. Our general,^
always prudent in his proceedings, cam^ up to Ofmedo, atn
fecting to disapprove of the indecent conduct of his guests,'
and requested of him to order a solemn mass and thanks-^
giving, and to give the soldiera a sermon on their religioui^
and moral duties. The oood father was quite ddighted at
this proposal { and accordingly the crucifixes and the image
of the blessed Virgin were carried in solemn procession, a-
mid our drums and military ensigns ; Olmedo chanted the
litany and administered the sacrament, and we all gave
thanxs to God for our victory.
Cortes now dismissed the Tlasjcakn chiefs and our other
allies, who had rendered most important services during our
kmg protracted warfare, making them many compliments
and ^eat promises, that he would make them all rich and
great lords, with extensive territories and numerous vassals,
so that they all departed in high spirits: But ^ey had 'Se-
cured something more substantial than empty promise,' an
th^ were all well laden with the plunder or Me:|^ico. Neio
ther were they behind our ene^ea in their cannibal foists, of
which they bad reserved some portjipns to give to their firi^ds
on their return.
Now that I have concluded the narrative of so man^ fu-
rious and bloody engagements, through which the Afnughtj^
has been pleased to protect me, I must o^nfess, that th^e
sight of so many of my companions sacrificed alive to thp
ivar>god of the IV^exicans, inspired me with fear. Thi^ may
appear to some as an indication of want of courage, yet in
that time I considered myself, and was looked upon by all as
a valiant soldier, and was never exceeded hy any in bold ajt^
chievements. But when 1 saw the palpitating hearts of my
companions taken out alive, ^nd their l^s ajnd arms cut on
to he served up in the barbarous feasts of our canijiibal; etie^
mies, I feared it might one day be my own lot ; fmd in fact
ihe enemy bad me twice in thdr hands, but by the blessing
<^ God I> escaped from their savage giram. Yet I ever after^
wards remembered the dreadful scene which I had witnessed^
and
% ■ t
198 CimfMtt itfMtxUo PART It. BOOK II..
and on gcAig to battle wn much depresNd and untMy, ftar-
ing to be doomed to that cruel dcato. Yet I ahrayi recov-
moMled myielf to God and hit bleieed Mother, and the mo-
ment I wa« engaged wHh the enemy all fear left me. Let
thoae valiant caTaliert who have been in desperate battJea
ind mortal dangers decide on the cause of my fears, for I
dedare I never knew what fear was till I saw the savage im»
molation of my sevens-two companions : In mv own opi-
nion it was from excessive courage, as I was fully aware of
the extent of danger which I was voluntarily aliout to en-
tionnter. I have related manv engagements in this history,
at which I was not present i for even if my body had been
of iron I could not nave been present at all, and I was much
dleaer wounded than whole.
Section XIV.
Oeturmeet in New Spain immediately subsequent to the re»
duction of Mexico,
As soon as Cortes had leisure to think of objects of inter-
nal regulation, he gave orders to have the aqueduct restored
by which the aty of Mexico was supplied with water, and to
have the city cleared of the dead bodies and repaired, so
thai it miffht be again habitable within two montns. The
palaces ana houses were ordered to be rebuilt, and a certain
portion of the city was allotted for the natives, while another
part was reserved for the residence of the Spaniards. Gua-
timotzin made application to our general, in the name of ma-
ny of his nrincipal nobles, requesting that all their women of
rank who nad been taken by our soMiers, might be restored
to Uieir husbands and fathers. This was a matter of consi-
derable diflSculty ; yet the general allowed a search to be
made, with an assurance that all should be delivered up who
were inclined to return. Every house was accordingly search-
ed ; and though many were found, three only of the whole
number were mdined to return to their families ; all the rest
expressed their abhorrence at the idolatry of thdr country-
men, besides which, many of them declared that thjcy were
pr^ant, and refused to quit the soldiers to whom they were
attached.
One
• 'H)
.< ,■■
"■■:-m-' ■.'f :k,.
•ft 4
CHAP* ▼. iGCT. XIV. by Hernando Cortes,
liUk
One
One ofthc first public work* undertaken in Mexico waa
an arsenal for the reception of our flotilla which had been of
such signal service during the siege. To the best of my re-
membrancei Alvarado wias appointed alcalde, or ctuef magis-
trate, till the arrival of Salazar de la Pedrada. It was cur^
rently reported that Guutimotzln had thrown great <|uantUiet '
of gold, silver, and jewels, into the lake four days before HisM,
capture, and it was well known that our allies had got liifpe '
plunder as well as our own men who served in the br^;antines^
and many of us suspected that Cortes waa wcffl pleased tha$
Ouatimotzin had concealed much treasure, as he expected to
procure the whole for himself. It was thep proposed in the
armv, that Ouatimotzin and the prince of Tacuba, his most
conndentiai counsellor, should be put to the torture, to ex-
tort confession of where the treasure was secreted j this hop*
rid act was certainly creatly against the inclination of Cortes,
yet he was forced to feavc the unfortunate king and the lord
of Tacuba at the disposal of those avaricious wretches, who,
alleged that our general objected to this lafemal measure
that he might secure the ^old for himself* In answer to aQ|
interrogatories on the subject of the treasure, die rbyiil Mei^*' ;
can officers uniform^ protested that ho more existed than,'
what hod been produced ; which, when melted, did not ex<^ '
cecd the value of 380,000 crowns ; so that, when die royi^f -
fiflh and that for Cortes were deducted, those of the con<me^^
Tors who were not friends to Cortes were exceedingly dissatis*'
fied. All that could be extorted by the inhuman proc^ure
of torture from the king and prince was, that th^ had thro;wn->
some treasure into the bke, together with the muskets and'
other arras captured durinc ou^ flight from. Mexico ih ^\i
preceding year, four days before the surrender. The place'
indicatecTwas repeatedly searched to no purpose by our best
divers ; but a sun of solid gold, similar to eoe we got from
Montezuma, with many ornaments of small value, w^re fo^d
ill a deep pond near his residence. The prince of Tacuba
declared under the torture that he had buried some gold at a
place about four leagues from Tacuba; but when ^Ivarado
and six soldiers accompanied him there, of whom I was one,
he declared he hod no gold, and had only said so in h(^ dP
dying on die road. In fact the treasury wad reduced very
low before the accession of Ouatimotzin. I and sevenil oth^
good divers searched that part of the lake which had been
indicated by Gijiatimotzln, but w;e found only some small
>^> >,< pieces
I
,. ^ '%
»'.
i^V
•■'T.
soo
^
Omqmti tf Mexico
PART II. BOOK II.
pieces of goldi which were immediAtely claioied by Cortet
and Aledcrete the treMurer i wlio iikewiie sent down other
penons in their own presence, but all they got did not reach
the value of ninety crowni. We were all miserably dittp-
p!di^$ed tu find our shares so small i insomuch that Olroedo and
ail the captains proposed to Cortes to divide the whole which be-
longed to the army among the wounded, the lame, the blind,
ana the sick, all who were sound renouncing their dp 'mo.
Wo| were all curious to know what our shares amomif ii '
and it at lenoth appeared that the share of a hot rnar wa»
only an hundred crowns. I forget how much belr >ki' 'o a
foot soldier; but it was so small that none or-v would u xept
the paltry sum, more especially the solaier < ii .arvaez, who
never liked Cortes.
Many of our soldiers had incurred heavy debts. A cross-
Ijbw cost fifty crowns, a musket a hundred, a horse eight
hundred or a thousand, and everv thing else in proportion.
Oiir surgeon, master Juan, and Doctor Murcia our apothe-
caiy and barber, charged very high, and there were various
o^er sources of debt, all to be satisfied from our miserable
dividends. These required to be regulated ; and according^
Iv. Cortes appointed two respectable persons, Santn Clara and
Jue*'v«.d, to itfbitrate all claims, which were ordered to be
cleared oiF within two years according to their award. The
vatue (Iso of the gold was debased, to serve us in our dealings
w)^. the merchants from Spain and Cuba; but it had the op-
posite effisct, as th^ charged more than double the difference
on their goods. On these abuses being known at court, our
emp!er6r was pleased to prohibit the farther currency of this
base mejjal, ordering i^ to be all received in payment of cer-
tain'duties, and no more of it to be made j and as two gold-
smiths' were detected for putting off base metal with the legal
ipark of good, they were hanged for the fraud.
As the best way to ^'C: himself of troublesome demands,
Cortes resolved to send otf c^^mies to make settleu.ents at
convenient situations. S^.., ^-as seni a this purpose to
occupy Coatzacualco ^ud Tzapotecapan, the south-eastern
provmces of the Mexican empire. Juan Velasquez to Coli-
ma, and Villa Fuerte to ZacatoUan, the most westerly pro-
vinces on the south sea. Christoval de Oli to take possession
of the kingdom of Michpacan, and Francisca de Orozco to
puaxaca or Oaxaco. The native chiefs of the distant pro-
vinces could hardly be brought to believe that Mexico was
destroyed.
^ .-,
».*
^
OK II.
CHAP. V. Sid'. XTV. fty Remanio Cortes,
Cortet
other
rmcH
diuip-
doand
ich be-
blindy
nU tcr,
w wa»
■»! 'o a
1 u<x«pt
», who
L crow-
le eight
portion.,
apothe-.,
various,
liserable
cording-
lara nnd
id to be
I. The
dealings
the op-
ifference
urt, our
of this
; of cer-
vo ffold-
the legal
emandst
.cuts at
irpose to
eastern
to Coli-
erly pro-
ossession
rozco to
ant pro-
(dco was
estroyedf
destroved, and f*^nt deputations to ascertain the truth <^ike re-
port, bearing lurge presents of gold to Cortes, and submitting
themself es as vassals to our cmpcrnr. Many came in person to
Mexicot and even brought their children to see the fallen condi-
tion of that great power which they had once held in such awe
and terror, expressingthemselves in their own language, as who
should say, Here stood Troy. My readers nay be curious to
know how we, the conquerors of Mexico, after encountering jw>
many fatigues and dangers to gain possession of that city, should
now so readily abandon it in searcn oi new settlements. To this
I answer : Tlie books containing the record of the Mexican
revenues were examined to find whence Montezuma had ob-
tained the valuable articles of tribute, such as gold, c( oa,
and cotton, and we all wished to remove to these productive
districts. Some especially were led by the example of San-
doval, who was known to be the particular friend of Cortes,
and who would not, as they thought, jc sent upon an unpro-
fitable errand. We all knew that the vicuiity of Mexico had
neither mines, plantations, nor manufactures, being entirely
occupied in the cultivation of maize and magun, which did
not afibrd sufficient prospects of advanu^gc, and we anxiously
removed therefore to other places, where we were miserably
disappointed. I among others, went to Cortes and asked
permission to accompany Sandoval to his government : " Bio
ther Diaz," said he, ** you had better stay with me : If you
are resolved to accompany your friend San( !ova], you may cer-
tainly go ; but on my conscience you will )*epent." All the
gold got into the hands of the royal officers, as the slaves
were purchased by tho soldiers at a public sale. The various
detachments were sent out at different periods to occupy the
provinces, but all within two months after the reduction of
Mexico.
At this time, Cliristoval de Tapia, veedor of Hispaniola',
arrived at Villa Rica with a commission to assume the oo-
vernment of New Spain, by order of the emporor and under
the direction of the bishop of Burgos. He likewise birought
letters from the bifhop to Cortes and many persons in the
army, recommending him to be received with honour as go-
vernor, promising great rewards to all who should assist him
in assuming the government, with severe threats of punishing
all who opposed him : besides these sealed letters, he had
many others which he was authorised to address as he saw
occasion. Tapia in the first place presented his commission
to
WJ
, at.. ^
Js- -
^
Conquest of Mexico part li. DOOic |i.
U
i
Alvarado, who now commanded at Villa Rica^ who received
it with the highest respectt saying that it did not belong to
him to decide on so important a sulyect»andit would be pro-
per, therefore* to assemble the alcaldes and remdors of the
settlement, that the commission might be vermed in their
presence, and that it might be certamly known it came regu-
larly from his majesty. This did not exactly suit the views
of Tapia, who was aaviscd to proceed to Mexico, and to pro>
duce his commission to the general } he therefore forwarded
to Cortes the letter of the bishop, and wrote to him on the
subject of his mission to New Spain, using smooth and per-
suasive terms, and Cortes was by no means behind hand in
the civility of his reply. Cortes, however, sent off expresses
to some of his most confidential officers whom he had pre-
viously detached to settle colonies, ordering them to go to
meet T^^ia, who had already begun his journey to Mexico,
and was met with on the road by Alvarado, Sfuidoval, Val-
dcnegro, Andres de Tapia, and Father Olmedo, all persons
in the confidence of Cortes, by whom Christoval de Tapia
was persuaded to go back to Chempoalla, and to produce his
commission to them. Having examined it and finding it
genuine, they placed it on their heads in token of respect An4
submission to the will of the emperor, yet hesitated as to ac>
knowledging Tapia for governor, alleging that it was neces-
sary in me first place to be assured of his maiestys pleasure
in the present state of New Spain, which had been concealed
from his knowledge by the bishop of Burgos, to serve his
own private viervs and to favour Tapia and Velasquez, one
of whom it was alleged was to marry his niece. 1 'apia saw
evidently that it would be no easy matter to enter upon his
office of governor, and fell sick with vexation. The pefore-
mentioned deputies informed Cortes by letter of all that had
passed, and advised him to try the all-powerful influence of
gold on the would-be governor. Cortes complied with this
advice, and transmitted a good quantity of golden ingots by
return of the express, by means of which his friends grutifieu
the avarice of Tapia, under pretence of purchasing one of
his ships, with some horses and negroes } and Tapia set sail
in his other vessel for Hispaniola, where he was very ill re-
ceived by the royal audience and the Jeronymite brother-
hood, as he had undertaken this business contrary to their
express orders.
I have formerly mentioned some particulars of an unsuc-
■* cessful
•if-:^
-^^ M «
.« .„..f-.:.,t .
CHAP* v« SBCT. uv. fy Htmando Cortes,
909
cessiul e^qtedidoa set on foot fay Garray, the ffovernor of
Jamaica, for the estabUshment' of a colony on die river of
Paniwo { and as Cortes was informed that Oarray mtaided
to resume that project, he resolved to anticipate huU} consi-
dering the country on that river as included in New %>ain.
Having likewise been informed that Narvaez, who still con-
tinued a prisoner at Villa Rica, had held some confidential
intercourse with Tapia, in which he advised him to quit the
country as soon as possible, and td lay a statement of the
whole befors his pairon the bishop of Bursos; Cortes
sent orders to Hangel, now commandant at Vula Rica, to
send up Narvaez to Cojohuacau, where Cortes resided until
the palace he meant to inhabit at Mexico was completed.
On appearing before Cortes, Narvaez fell on his knees and
endeavoured to kiss his hand ; but Cortes raised and etOf
braced him, and treated him with the utmost kindness. His
residence ir Mexico being ready for his reception, Cortes
went to live there in great splendour, marking out a plan
for the restoration of the city, in which ample allotments were
made fo)r churches, monasteries, and public buildings, with
squares and markets, all the rest of the around being set
apart for the private inhabitants ; and both so speedily and
splendidly was this capital restored, that all who have seen it
allow there is not in Christendom a larger, better built, or
more populous city. While thus employed, intelligence was
brouffht to Cortes that the province of Panuco was in arms,
and nad killed many of the soldiers whom he had sent to
make a settlement at that place. He resolved, iierefore, to
proceed to Panuco in person, as all his most ranfidential
officers were now absent on different duties.
4 By this time our strength had been considerably augment-
ed, both by means of mose formerly mentioned who had
iaeen on the expedition to Florida under Aillon, and by seve-
ral who had come over alo^e with Tapia, and by the arrival
of many adventurers from tne islands of Hispaniola, Cub{^
and Jamaica. De Oli, likewise, had now returned fi»m
Mechoacan, which he had reduced to submission, bringing
with him the principal cacique of that country and severu
other chie&, with a considerable quantity of gold. Cortes
therefore left a respectable garrison m Mexico, under Di^;o
de jSoto, and set out onnis march for Panuco 'with 130
cavalry
1 tlie province here named Pknuco, is rituated en the cout 6i the |^If
of Mexico, sx }he mouth of a coniiderable river which draini the tupcmu*
cm
4
^.
'f^-
• **,■
if i
m -
'I
k
/a
I (•
J
\i
204
Conquest tf Mexico' part ii. boorii.'
cavalry^ 250 infantry, and 10,000 Mexican warriors. As
this expedition was very expensive, Cortes wished the chAige
to be defrayed from the royal funds, but the officers of the
treasijiry refused, under the pretext that it had been under-
taken from motives of private interest, to prevent Garray
from establishing a colony in that place, and not for the
public service. The Panuchese, otherwise called the Guaste-
cas and N(up;uaticas, were numerous and warlike, and had
collected a force of above 70,000 warriors, with which they
fought two battles against Cortes in the course of a few days,
in which three Spaniards, four horses, and above a hundred
Mexicans were slain j but we obtained the victory in bdth
actions, with such slaughter of the rebels, as deprived them
of all inclination to renew the war for the present. By means
of Father Olmedo and some prisoners, the Panuchese were
now induced to submit Cortes in the next place proceeded
with half his army across the river Chila, to reduce the
natives who had murdered the messengers whom he sent to
require their submission. On crossing the river, the enemy
fell upon our troops wilh great fury, but were soon defeated,
and our people advanced to a town in which they ibmid
abundance of provisionii. Some of our soldiers, on going
into a temple next morning, found the remains of some of
our men, and even recognized their features, a melancholy
sight to us all ; but we carefully collected and buried their
remains. From this place our detachment marched to
another, where the enemy concealed some of their troops
among houses, intending to fall upon our men when the ca>
valry had dismounted ; but as their plan was discovered it
failed of success, yet they fought valiantly for half an hour,
even rallying three times, contrary to the usual custom of the
Indians, and three of our soldiers were so badly wounded that
they afterwards died. On the ensuing day, our soldiers
scoured the country, and in some deserted towns they found
HI number of earthen vessels filled with a species of wine in
underground cellars. After having marched for five days
til rough the country in various directions, the detachment re-
turned to the river Chila, and Cortes again summoned the
the country to submission. They promised to send a depu-
tation
aus waters of the Mexican vale, named at first Rio del Desague, then Rio
de Tula) and Rio Tanipico at its mouth, in about lat. 22" 15' N. The
>1nciern town of Pasuco it about SCO milei almost due north fivm Mexic*.
, .*»-
«. fv CM t--^:^
*-44 •• *M'^-*Ki
.IrS
•i.j
\i. ^-^irf..**— ■- ft.?- -• ^ «..«^ ,.* (■ ,«
«ll^./ h-.-*.4- ,
CHAP. V. SECT. XI V. 6y Hernando Cortes.
ms
from Mexico.
ttition for that piitpose in four days, for which Cortes >vaited»
but to no purpose $ he therefore sent a large body of Mexi-
cans, during a dark rainy night, across a lake to attack one
of their largest towns, which was entirely destroyed ; after
which most of the country submitted, and Cortes established
.a town of ISO houses about a league from the river of Chila,
which he named Estevan del Puerto, leaving 63 Spanish sol-
diers to keep the country under subjection, and giving the
command of all the neighbouring country to Pedro Valego. ;
Before leaving this country, Cortes was informed of three
-districts, which had now submitted, the inhabitants of which
had been very active in the murder of the Spaniards at Panu-
co on the former occasion, and who had entered into a reso-
^lution to fall upon the new settlement as soon as he quitted
•the country. He marched therefore against them, and de-
'Stroyed their towns, which they re-established soon after his
departure. In consequence of the loss of a vessel which Cor-
tes had ordered to bring provisions from Villa Rica, this new
settlement was reduced to much distress. The inhabitants of
vthis province of Panuco were the most barbarous of all the
•tribes in New Spain, being cruel to excess, exceedingly addict-
'•ed to human sacrifices, drunken, filthy, and wicked beyond
4)elief. They frequently rebelled, and were as often punished
in a most exemplary manner ; but all would not reduce them
runder good government; But when Nunez de Guzman be-
. came governor of New Spain, he reduced the whole nation
to slavery, and sold them among the diflPerent Islands of the
•West Indies.
< On his return towards Mexico, Cortes received complaints
-of various depredations having been committed by the inha-
.. bitants of the neighbouring mountains on the peaceable dis-
tricts of New Spain *, He determined therefore to chastise
-these lawless tril)es while on his way ; but they anticipated
him, by assaulting his rear in a diincult pass of the moun-
- tains, where they got possession of a considerable portion of
-the baggage. But our Mexican allies severely reveng^ this
Insult, and made prisoners of two of the principal ho^i^ chiej&
' who were both hanged. Ader this victory, Cortes suspend-
ed hostilities, and having summoned the people to appear be-
fore him, they came in and submitted, on which Cortes ap-
pointed
3 These were probably the Chlchimecai and Otomles, who inhabiced t»
the north-weitof the M?xit?n ea>piri|.--J5'
^
206
Conquesi of Mexico fart ii. book ii.
r■^^
pointed the brother cf ihe cacique who had been put to
dealli to the vacant government About this time Alonza db
Arik, who was formerly mentioned, returned with fiill
powers from the royal audience and the Jeronynrite brother-
Bood, to continue our oonouests, to make settlements of kmd
and colonies according to tne established rules in Hispaniohi
and Cuba, and to brand slaves: And he brought notice
diat these tribunals had transmitted a roport of the steps they
had now taken to the government in Spain, whence it was
transmitted to the emporor, then in Flanders. If A^la had
been in New l^cmin at the arrival of Tapia, he might have
proved troublesome, as he was entirdy devoted to the Bishop
of Burgos, having been bred up in his house. On this ao>
count, and by the advice of Oimedo, Cortes gave him die
command of the district of Guatitkm, one of the most profit-
able in New Spun, and also made him a consiclerable
present of gold, and many flattering words and promises
by which he gained him over entirely to his interest, inso-
much that he sent him soon afterwards into %Mun as his
agent, carrying a large quantity of gold, pearls, and jewels to
the emperor, together with severu gigantic human bones
that were fbund in a temple at Cojohuacan, similar to those
-which had been formerly sent from Tlascala, as already men-
tioned K Besides these things, he carried over three Mexi-
can tigiers, and many other curious things which I do not
now remember. One part of the business of this agency,
was to carry a memoriM from the cabildo of Mexico, and
from us the conquerors of New Spain, soliciting to be sup-
fdied with bishops and clergy of holy life and exemplary
manners, and requesting that all offices of honour and emo-
lument might be conferred on us who had conquered this
Tost empire for our sovereign, and that the supreme govern-
ment might be confided to our general Cortes. We request-
ed that his majesty might be pleased to prohibit any lawyers
from coming among us, who would throw us into con-
fusion with their learned quibbles ; and we farther repre-
sented the insufficient commission of Christoval de Tapia,
who
T(>;><!
3^.-
s From tTteie slight notices, nothing certain can be gathered respecting
thew large bones : Yet there is every reason to believe they must have been
of the same kind with those now familiar to the learned world, under the
name of Mammoth. The vale of Mexico has every indication of having
once been an immense inland lake, and the other big bones of North Ameri-
ca have all been found in places of a similar description. The greatest >ie-
posit of these hitherto known, is at a place called big-bone-itvamf, near the
Alisstssippi, in the modern state of Kentucky.— £.
m
i
i put to
lonza dte
^th full
brother-
I of land
ispaniola
It notice
teps they
ice it was
ivilahad
ight have
le Biahop
In this ao-
e him the
Oft profit-
nsiderable
i promises
rest, inso-
Min as his
d jewels to
(lan bones
BUT to those
eady men-
ree Mexi-
1 do noi
lis agency,
exico, and
to be sup-
exemplary
r and emo-
uered this
ne govem-
Ve request-
iny lawyers
into con-
her repre-
"de Tapia,
who
red retpecUng
lUBt have been
rid, uDderthe
ion of having
iJorth Ameri-
le greatest oe-
mpt near the
CHAP. V. sl&cT. XIV. bjf Hdmando Cortes.
SO"?
who hnd been sent out by the Bishop of Burgos,^ merely for
the purpose of efiectunting a marriage between him and the
bishops niece. We d^recated the mterference of the bishop
in the afikirs of New Spain, which had already obstructs
onr efforts of conquest in the service of his majesty, and hiid
manifested great enmity ajzainst us by prohibiting the Gasa
de Contratation of SeviUe trom sending us any supplies. We
concluded by declaring ourselves reaoy to receive his majes-
ties command^with the most perfect submission and obedience,
but that we had deemed it our bounden duty to lay all these
))articulars before his mmesty, which had hitherto heaa art-
fully kept from his knowledge. On his part, Cortes sent a
memorial to the king of twenty-one pages long, in which he
lefl no argument unemployed to serve his own and our inte-
rest. He even requested permission to go over to the island
of Cuba, and to send the governor Velasquez a prisoner to
Spain, that he might be tried and punished for the injuries ,
he had done to the public service, and e^ieeially for having
sent an order to nut Cortes to, death.
Our agents sailed from Vera Cruz on the 20th December
1522, and no particular occurrence happened on the voyage
to the Terceras or A9ores, except that one of the tigers
broke loose and wounded some of the sailors, who were luce-
wise obliged to kill the other on account of its ferocity. At
the island of Terccra, Captain Quinones lost his- life in a
dud, occasioned by a quarrel about a lady, by which means
our business was left in the iiands of Alonzo de Avila. In
continuing his voyage to Europe, he was taken by a French
privateer, commanded by one Jean Florin, who took ano-
, ther ship from Hispaniola with a valuable cargo of sugar and
i hides, and 20,000 crowns in gold, and many pearls ; so that
I with this and our treasure he returned very rich to France,
where he made magnificent presents to the king and admiral
' of France, astonishing every body at the magnificence of the
^ , presents which we had transmitted for our emperor. The king
/ of France observed on this occasion, that the wealth which We
supplied from New Spain was alone sufficient to enable our
I aovereiffn to wage war against him, althoi^h Peru was not
then discovered. It was also reported that the king of
France sent a message to our emperor, saying. That as he
and the kin^ of Portugal had divided the workl between
them, he desired to see the will of our father Adam, to know
if he had made them exclusively his heirs. In his next ex-
pedition, Florin was made prisoner by a strong squadron
belonging
f
208
Conquest of Mexico part ii. book ir.
« J
belonging to Biscay) and was hanged in ^e island of Tene-
riflb.
Avila Wat made a dose prisoner in France, but by gain-
ing the friendship of the officer to whose custody ne had
.been confided, he was enabled to correspond with his friends
in Stoain, to whom he transmitted all the documents with
which he had been entrusted, which were all laid before the
emperor Don Carlos by Martin Cortes, our ffenerals iather,
ana Diego de Ordas, by means of the licentiate Nunez, re-
lator of the royal council, who was cousin to Cortes. The
emperor was pleased, on due consideration of these docu-
ments, to order that all favour should be shewn to our ge-
nend, and that the proceedings respectinff the government of
New Spain should be suspended until his majesty returned
into Spain.
We were much disappointed on receiving intelligence of
the loss of our treasure, and the detention of our agent in
France ; yet Cortes honourably reserved the district of Gua-
titlan for Avila, notwithstandmg his captivity, and gave it
three years afterwards to a brothei' of Aionzo de Aviu, who
was then promoted to be contador of Yucutan.
Section XV.
■V
Expeditions ofGonzalo de Sandoval^ Pedro de AlvaradOf and
otkerSfJbr reducing the Mexican Provinces.
After the settlement with Christoval de Tapia, the Cap-
tains Sandoval and Alvarado resumed the expeditions with
whicli they had been before entrusted, and on this occasion I
went along with Sandoval. On our arrival at Tustepeque ' , I
took my lodgings on the summit of a very high tower of a
temple, for tne sake of fresh air, and to avoid Uie musquitoes,
which were very troublesome below. At this place, seventy-
two of the soldiers who came with Narvaez and six Spanish
,^-:'.v pn:
•■/• BiJf!'.5W:wt'.
women
^ 1 This expedition appears to have been for the reduction of certain pro-
vinces to the south-east of the vale cf Mexico, now forming the intendency
of Oaxaca, inhabited by the MixtecasandTzapotecaa. The Tuatepeque of
the text,, waft probably a town on the Boca de Chacahua on the South Sea.
now called Tututepec, in lat. 15* 50' N. and long. 100< 15' £. On the
very imperfect map of Clavigero, it i> named Tototefper, and is placed in
the country of the Mixtecas.— £.
euAF. V. SECT. XT. hf HtTtMndo Cortes,
SOO
lOK ir.
Tene-
le naa
friends
ts with
>re tbe
father,
lez, re-
. The
I docu-
aur ge-
ment of
etumeil
rence of
kgent in
ofGna-
ive it
who
adOi ttnd
the Cap-
ons with
zcasion I
lequeS.I
iver of a
isquitoes,
seventy-
Spanish
women
eruin pro-
intendency
ittepeque of
South Seat
i. On the
is placed in
women were put to death. Thewh(de province mibmitted
unmediotely to Sendovni, except the Mexican chief who had
been the prindpal inntrumcnt of the debtruction of our sol*
dien, who was soon afterwardi* nia^e prisoner and burnt o-
live. Many others had been equally guilty, but this examplt
of severity wau deemed sufficient.
Sandoval, in the next place, sent a message to the TztqxH
tccas, who inhabit a mountainous district about ten lesguet
from Tustepeque or Tututepec, ordering them to submit to
his authority i and on their refusal, an expedition was aietti
against them under Captain Briones, who according to his
own account had served with reputation in the wars of Italy:
His detachment consisted of lou Spanish infantry, and a*
bout an eauiil number of Indian allies { but the enemy were
prepared lor him, and so completely surprised him in a diffi-
cult pass of the mountains, thut they .drove him and hii
men over the rocks, roUing them down to the botUmi, by
which above a third of them were wounded, of whom oat
afterwards died. The district inhabited by the Tzapotecoa
is of very difficult accetis among rtKky mountains, where the
troops can only pass in single file, and the climate is very
moist and rainy. The inhabitants are armed with long
lances, having stone heads about an ell long, which have two
as sharp as razors, and they arc d^ended by pliable
shidds which cover their whole bodies. They are cxtretaefy
nimble, and give signals to each other by loud whistlings,
which echo among the rocks with inconceivable ^rillneM.
Their province is named Tiltepeque * { which, after its sv^
mission, was confided to the charge of a soldier named 0|e>
da. On his return to quarters, Sandoval ridiculed Briones
on the bad success of his expedition, asking him if he had
ever seen the like in Italy ; for Briones was always boasting
of his exploits there, as how he had severed men in two,
and tlie like. Briones was sore displeased with the^e sai'-
casms, and swore he would rather fight agamst the Turks or
Moors than the Tza{iotecas. There was another district of
the Tzapotecas' called Xaltepec, which was then at war with
'\ neighbouring tribe, and who immediately, on being sum-
moned by Sandoval, sent a deputation of their chiefs to wait
upon him with handsome presents ; among which was a con-
YOL. IV. o sideraUe
t Named*
-E.
SjfWMristsly, ia die nap of Clavigero, Tzapoteca>pi
Is'
J».
Ot
§
\ I
UIO
Conquest qf Mexico txnr ii. book ii*
^tderable quantity ofgold, partly made into toys, and partly
Hi ten little tubes, l^eir cniefii were drcwad in lona coCtan
robes* richly embroideredi and reaching to their net, like
the upper aannents worn by the Moors. They requested to
be aasistea by some of our soldiers against ueir enemies*
whom they named the Minxes. The state of our force at this
time did not permit hun to comply with thu request* but he
promised to transmit their request to our genenu at Mexico,
with an application for an auxiliary force to be sent them*
and said he could only now send a small number of his men
along with tlicm* to obserre the nature of the passes* but his
real object wub to examine their mines. With this answer
he dismissed them all except three, sending eight of ua along
with them to explore the country and its mines.
. There was another soldier of the same name with myself
in this party, tor indeed there were three of us in the .army
named CaMillo. At that time I prided myself on my dress*
and was called Castillo the beau. My namesake who went
on the present expedition was named Castillo the thoughtjvlt
as he wan of slow speech, never replying to a question for
« long while* and then answering by some absurdity. The
third was called Castillo the prompt^ as he was always very
xeady and smart in all his words. Chi our arrival at the dis-
trict of Xaltepec, the Indians turned over the soil in three
<Ufferent rivers* in each of which they found gold* and soon
^led three tubes wiUi it as luree as a mans mididle finoer,
with which we returned to Sandoval, who now thought that
^ our fortunes would be made. He took a district to him-
self, from which he very soon procured gold to the value of
. 15*000 crowns. He gave the district of Xaltepec* whence
we had obtained the gold* to Captain Luis Marin* but it
•turned out very iudifierentiy. He cave me a very profitable
district* which I wish to God I had kept; it consisted of
.tiuree places* named Matalan* Oztoequipa, and Oriaca* where
the ingenio of the viceroy is now situated ; but I thought it
' more consistent with my character as a soldier to accompany
Sandoval in his military expeditions. Sandoval called his
. town Medellin* alter the birth-place of Cortes ; and the Rio
rde las Vuiuleros* from which he procured the 15,000 crowns*
. was for some time the port where the merchandise fixwi
Spain was discharged, until Vera Cruz became . the empo-
rium.
^.imii^.'i
r. BOOK II*
jBiiA#. T. 8ECT. XT. Ifjf Hematub v m.
ni
' We now marched into the province of Coatzaoialoot through
the diitrict of Citla \ which ii about twelve leagaea in len^^
and kweadth, and is very populous, having a flbe dimate Sd
abounding in provisions. The chieft immediirteljr submitted.
On our arrival at the river of Coatzacualeo, irhiw is the go-
verning distri<^ of all the neighbouring tribes, the chieft, did
not malce their appearance on being sununotied, which we
coiisidered as an indication of hostility, whldb was in fiiet
thdr first intention i but afler five days, they Came in and
made their submissions, presenting some trinkets of fine gold
to Sandoval. By his orders, they collected a hundred cAnoes,
in which we crossed the river, sending four sotdiers in advance
to eiuunine and report the state of the country. A town Was
founded in this place, which we named Villa del Eq>{ritu
Santo, because on that day we defeated Narvaez, udns that
e]q>ression as our watchword, and because, we crossea this
river on the same day. In this place the flower of onr army
was established, which at this time mustered e^hty cavifry,
ft greater^ number in prqwrtion than five hundred is noW/
horses beinff then very scarce and dear. Having examined
the surrounding districts, Sandoval divided them among the
difierent settlements. To the settlement of Coatzacualeo, he
allotted Cuetzpaltepec, Tepeca, Chinantla, the Tzapotecas,
Copilco, Cimatan, Tabasco, Cachula, the Zoques, TecheoNi,
Cinacatan, the Quilenes, and Papanahausta. We had m
long litu;ation afterwards with the district of Vera Crust about
three of these, Cuetzpaltepec, Chinantla, and Tepeca jwidi
Tabasco about Cimatan and Copilco j. with Chiapa or Omip
timala, concerning the Quilenes and Zoques j tod likewise
with the town of St Ildefonso about the Tzapotecas. I re-
gretted having fixed myself in this place, as the lands were
very poor, and every thing turned out to my disadvantage.
We might indeed have done well enough if we had been teft
in our original situation t but as new settlements were succes-
sively formed, ours were curtailed to accommodate th;av> so
that our colony fell into decay ; and from being the best,
and containing the greatest number of the true conquerors of
Mexico, it has now very few inhabitants.
About this time Sandoval received intelligence of the arri-
val of Donna Catalina, the lady of our general, in the river
... of
'»»j .
,,tr#--i!
J.-i.d? H.4
s I wtpcct thi* ovfbt to b« nsssed CbinpatUu-^E.
*v:r«;;vw
fil2
Conquest qf Mexico tAKv ii. book li.
' Agui^alco*, accompanied by her brother. La ZeiDhniD»
■-) with her family came alotiff with her, and Donna i^lvira
ihe taUt who married J^an de Palma, who was after*
hanged* We atl went td pay our respects to the
hMJiett tbo roads being almost impassable owing to constant
heavy rain. Having escorted Donna Catalina and the rest
$o our town of Coatsacualco, or E^niritu Sunto, intelligence
was sent to Cortes of thrir arrival, and they set out soon
•iWrwards for Meuco. Cortes was soriy fur their coming,
but he received them with great pomp, and we heard about
Uiree months afterwards that Donna Catalina had died of an
•Irthma.
Viliafiierte bad been sent to Zacatula, and Juan Alvarez
CSiico to Colima, two provinces .m the south sea to the west
of |4[exioo, but were unsucce :>»)'\)1 $ on which Cortes sent
Cbrtstoval de Oli to reduce chese provinces to submission.
The natives attacked him on his march, killing two of hit
sbldlers; yet he reached the station of Villafuerte, who was
afraid to stir out* and had four even of his soldiers killed by
the enemy in the town where he resided. I do not know
what became ^f Captain Juan Alvarez, but 1 believe he lost
his life about this time in some action with the natives. De
OU reduced both | -ovinces to submihsion and returned to
Mexico, where he was hardly arrived when intelligence was
brought that they had ogain rebelled ; on which Cktrtes sent
i^mval with a small partv of veterans to take the charge of
^em. He pimished the ringleadtsrs of the rebellion, and re-
gulated them in so effectual a manner, that they continued
cyer afterwards submissive.
.,/, On the departure of Sandoval with the ladies, several of
the, districts subjected to Coatzacualco rebelled, killing the
soldiers who were appointed to collect the tribute ; among
which were the Tzapotecas of Xaltepec, Cimatan and Co-
pilco, Che first being difficult of access on account of its rug-
ged inountains, and the two others because of lakes and
marshes, so that they were not reduced to subjection without
great difficulty. Wnile Captain Luis Marin was engaged In
reducing these districts, Juan Buono arrived at our setuement
in
ft
4 This may probably be some corruption of tbe lutivenameoftbe Rio
0>atzacualcp, or Huaxacuaico ; b^ gmn^ it the ordinary Spanish prefix
figmi whidi figiufies watery «r a river, with the aative teimination cualeo.
^HA»t V. 8I«T. XV. fy Hernando Cortes*
fr%
in a imall vetieL He immediately called us alltogethert and
^odeavoured to perBunde us to sucmit to Chriitoval de Tapia
a« governor of New Spaint being ignorant of the i^Utn df
that person to Hispaniola. Buono nadanilmber df unod-
drcssed letters from the bishop of Burgos, making lAiij^oflfbri
to such as would further his views of superseding Cdrteii and
whidi Buono had a discretionary power of dhrectbg to ahy
persons that he supposed might support the cause in which he
was engraged, and which he accordmgly transmitted to thtiie
who hdd offices in the settlement Among the rest, t fru
offered the appointment of regidor. When Buono leiimt
that Tapia had lefl the country, he seemed much disappointed.
We referred him to Corses at Mexico* to whidi i>lace he v^enL
Iknownotwhatpasscdbetweenhimand Cortes, butl beHeyethtf ^
general sent him back to Spain with some money in his pOCRet. '
Among the tribes that courted our alliance after the ^oq**
quest of Mexico, was a people of the T9HP<^tie^n 'natto^.
named the l^ltepecs, who earnestlv requested oui: aMbmuaiei '
against a hostile tribe, who bore tne same name with; th^firiF
selves, and whom they reprevented as possessing' a veShf
rich country. Accordingly,' in the year 1524, Alvarkao
marched from Mexico with a detachment c^ iso soldteii^
cavdiy and infantry, with orders to take tw)fent]( nioi*^ pii^hm
march thrp^gh the district, of Oaxaco^ and (dsp tO v|^t>hd
reduce during his march certain mountainous districts whiiin
were said to be in rebellion. AlvaradowaS forty days oh bfii '
march between Mexico and Tut^)ec, and was vety}''^^- '
I, being lodged in tn^ inost
tably received on his arrival,
lous part of the city, wh^r^ the houses^tood dose togYU4c<|
and were thatdied with straw, it not benig tile custom <tt
that part of the country to have terraced roof»t on f^ccOUht
of their <;timato being very sultr}'. By the Jadvjce of Father
Olmedo, Alvarado removed i^ia quarters td ft nio'f'^ ^^ P*!^
of the^wn; as in case of any treachery belhglhtehoed^
the natives might easily have set fire to the first quarters.
In this place, Alvarado was plentifully supplied w;itn pi^Vi-
sions, and the principal chief made him every day sbme^jflch
present of gold ; and among otliar things gave hiip k pai^
of golden stirrups, made according to a pattern. / Yet, only
a few days afier, the cacique was mode a priscmer, on tne in-
formation, as was said, oi the Indians of Tecuantqoec, that
he meant to bum the Spaniards in the quarters which had
been assigned them in the temples. Some of the Spaniards
alleged
/
, ,Vi"''^'*,-'-^"'^M***. A.,*, *.4i»U»^.v+.4j*.-
■t ^*W.'HJ^4.^*
«.^ , ^^^'^-.- •^- -
Conquest (^ MeMteo Mtf ii. Mdit ir;
alkgcd tlwt Alvarado made him a priioiier in order to ti-
UtnmM for hii rantoin. However this may hare been, iNi
4iad n> prkm of vexation, after Aharodo had got tnm hiirf
to tba valve of 90,000 crowni. Hii son wan permitted t^
•ncoeed hfan in the goremment, from whom Ahrarado ob-
taiQJKl iqore gold than he had done from the father. Alva*
fudopam eatablithed a eoloay, which was called Segura, be*
^wm moat of the colonisti came from Tcpcaai, nam^ bgK
vtf iSngura de la Frontera.
Amrado set out soon afterwards on his return to Meileo
wh^.au his wealth, as Cortes had written to him to brimj; sit
{|ie treasure be, possibly could, which he intended to send (i^
io.Sp^. , The soldiers were much dissiUisftcd at bdns thus
ejccwded from any share, and sevieral of them entered into
%. •coDf^fincy to assassinate Ahrarado and his brothers. CHitf
'^ the conspirators, named Tribqo, gave ii^formation of the
,t6 Fatoer Olmcdo, only a few hours before it was iiW'
t^liave, oeen executed; and the reverend Father ivt^
^e4' Alvarisdpi Just as he was riding out along with some
^^ he conspirators. He continued his intended excursion
iqirt^thp^'f^i .then turning suddenly, he compThinei^ df a
^ *~ m his suie» saying he must go back for a surgeon id
Llum. On his arrival at quarters, he immediately sent
;, his two broth^ tc^gether ^th the alcaldes and l^^uaab
;^ settklQent, ivhom he ordered to arrest the' c6nqiiira-
' y two of wh<^ were hanged. Ahrarado returned to
700 wi^' his gold { but the colonists finding all the gold
.|iwav» and that the place was hot and unhealthy, in*
/,^|tn niusqutioes, bugs, and other vermin, and them-
Ijijlyff ^nd slgVes fast dyinff, they abandoned the settlement,
BO^^joiag to Mexicot and others to different pbces. Cdr>
j^a wjBs .xinjich dinleased at this abandonment and finding
on inqnirr that it nad been done by a resolution of the aF
ioddes and regi^ofs |n fb]l cabild6,*he condemned them to
miffof deat)it but their pimishment, at the intercession of
C^fdOi was ipitigated to banishment. Thus the settlement
ipf S^gfira f^ to the ground^ which bnd been estaU&hed in
tk very l^rtil^ cpuntry, but exceedingly unhealthy. By the
iCruelty and e;|(tortion of Alvarado, the mjnds of the nativies
wci^',alienatfld, and they threw off their allegiance; but he
|redu6e^ t^em ajg^ to submission, and they continned a&
terwards to ^)ehave tlifmselves peaceably-.
fii
Section
cjur. v« 8ICT. XTf. btf Hernando Cartes.
n&.
Sectiok XVL
•s^
Jection
Sowu AccoutU of the Eftpedition qf Franeieeo de Oarajf for
ike Cdlonixati&n qf Panmco,
HAYizfo formerly mentioned the expedition fitted out by
Frwicibco de Garoy, the governor of JMnaica, it leemi pro*.
per to give a more particular account of that afiiur in thi»:
place. Hearing of the great riches which Diego Vdaaqucc
was Ukely to acquire m>m New Spain, and of the fmile
countries which had been discovtfod on the continent of the
We«t Indies* and enoouraged by the means he now posses .
sed of prosecuting discoveries and conquests, he determined^
to (try his own fortune in that career. Tor this purpose he:
9ent for and discoursed with Alaminos, who had been our
chief pilot, from whom he received so favourable an account
•f thoe countries, tliat he sent Juan de Torralva, a pcrsoa
in whom he could confide, to solicit the buh<^ of Bnrgoa ta
grant him a commission tor settling the country on the rivev
of Panuco ; and having succeeded in this prenminary stqs,.
he fitted out an armameut of three ships, with 240 sddier8,f
under the command of Alonzo Alvarez Pineda, who was de^^
feated by the Panuchesc, one ship only escaping, which join-
ed, us at Villa Rica, at already rdated. Receiving no Intel-'
ligence of the iute of his first armament, Oaray sent a.se^
cond, which also arrived at our port. Having now expend'*
ed a great deal of money to no purpose, and having leamf
the gWNl fdrtune of CorteH, ho became more than ever de-;
sirous to secure the advantages he expected to derive from
his commission. With this view he fitted out thirteen ships,
in which he embarked 136 cavalry, and 840 foot soldiers/
mostly musqueteers and crossbow-men, of which he took
the command ii person. He sailed with this great arnuH
ment from Jamaica, on the ^4th June 152S, and arrived
safe at the port of Xamia in the island of Cuba, where he
recdved inrarraation that Cortes had reduced the pnnanee
of Ftnuoo to subjection, and hfed sent a petition to the emn
peror to g^ a oommission for govjeroiug his. new acquisition!
Ha was here informed of the heroic deeds of Cortes and his
companions, and in particular of our having defeated the
hx^ force of Narvaez, tHiile we had only 270 soldiers.
•*-^^ Struck
216
Conquta ef Mexico paht ii. book li.
Strack with awe at the power and abilities of our general, he
8olicitt>d the licentiate Zuazco to mediate between him and
Cortes, that he might be permitted to take possession of the
Sivemment of Panuco, in pursuance of his commission from
e bishop of Burgos.
Garay hhortly ulerwards set out with his armament, and
being driven by a storm into the river Palmas ', he disem*
barked there, intending to march by land to Panuco, having
first exacted an oath of fidelity from his troops ; and he even
nominated the various officers of his colony, which he intend-
ed to name Garayana. Having marched tor two days along
the sea-shore, through a marshy uninhabited country, he ar*
rived at some villages, where the inhabitants entertained him
horaitably, but many of his soldiers straggled about robbing
and maltreating the pei^ple. Garay at length arrived at Pa-
nuco, where his soldiers expected all their difficulties would
end, but it was almost a desert, as it had been much wasted
in the war with Cortes, and the natives concealed what re-
mained, so that they found nothing but bare walls, where they
were tormented with>mosquitos and every kind of vermin*
Garay could get no intelligence of his fleet, and learnt from
a fi^paniard wno had fled from punishment and lived among
the Indians, that the province of Panuco Mas poor and un-
healthy ; and as this man gave a very favourable account of
Mexicoj many of Garays soldiers uesertcd from him, and
went ofi' for Mexico, plundering the natives on their wvy.
Garay found himsdf in a bad pliig^t, and sent one of his offi-
cers, named Diigo de Ocampo, to sound the disposition of
Vallejo, who was governor of St Estevan del Puerto for Cor-
tes, and to notify the appointment of Garay to the govern-
ment of this country. Vallejo gave a favourable answer, re-
ouesting the soldiers might be restrained from maltreating
tne inhabitants ; but sent off an express to Cortes, soliciting
a strong i-einforcement or the immediate presence of the ge-
neraL On receiving this intelligence, Cortes immediatdy
sent off Alvarado, Sandoval, Father Olmedo, and Gonzalo
de Ocampo, brother to Diego de Ocampo, who was with
Garay, giving them a copy of the royal instructions, by which
' all his conquests wfre loft under his command till the dispute
i between him and Velasquez were judicially settled.
On
, 1 Hiii is probably the river oFNueva Santander, about 100 miles north
from the Rio Tampico or river of Panuco. — £.
€^ht. V. SBcr. XVI. 6y Hernando Cortts,
sn
On th« arrival of Garay in the ndghbotirhood of St Eito-
van, Vallgo learnt from five deeerteri^ that die troo|M irera
scattered n^ligently in a large town called Nao^lan, oit
which he concerted a plan for coming cm them by fcuiprin^
and made forty of them prisoners, alkging tliat they had in-
vaded the country without a commiMion, and had piundelred
the inhabitants who lived undi>r His oovernmentt Oavay
threatened Vallejo with the vengeance of the court of i^mun
for this outrage, and demanded the immediate rdeaw m hb
soldiers ) on which Vallejo requested to see hit comininion,
which, if from his mnjehty, he would obey in ail bumih^.
Just nt this time arrived the deputies flrum Cortes, and Diegd
de Ocampo, being then ifirst alcalde of Mexico, made a for-
mal retnonstraiKe against the entrance of Oaray with an arm-
ed force into the ^>Vemment of another person. Several
days were spent ih remonstrance and replies cm both sides,
during which time tilanj of Gtarays troops deserted from
IVo of the ships belbnging to Ganiy were lost in s tottk
pest, and the remainder todt shelter in the mouth of the ri-
ver, wheh Vall^o secretly negotiated witli their officers to
join thie party of Cortes. He at length contrived to inviegle
the whole of the fleet up the river to the port of St Estevan,
where he made all their officers and men prisoners in the
name of Cortes ; but Father Olmedo persuaded him to aet
them at liberty. The unfortunate Garay entreated the offi-
cers of Cortes to restore his ships ahd to compel his troops to
return to their duty, promising to give up his intended settle-
ment at Panuco, and to retire to the river Palmas^ They
agreed to this, and used every measure to induce the deaert-
ers to return, but with little effect i as they all^;ed th^ had
. already discharged their euMgement in coming to Panuco,
atid they despised Garay. In this hopdMi state, Garay was
persuaded to write to CJortes, stating hit situation, and te-
questing his protection and assi»>tance, in consideration of
their former friendship. Cortes engaged to do what he de-
sired, and invited him to come to Mexico, where he was ho-
nourably received, and promised every redress, referring him
to Olmedo, Sandoval, and Alvarado, to agree with him on
the terms. At the suggestion of Olmedo, a marriage wac
proposed between Donna Catalina Cortes y Pizarro, the
daughter of Cortes, and the eldest son of Garay, who had a
command in the fleet. C<Mrtes agreed to this, giving hit
dauffhter
\ I
i
..^Wa>ii;r'M->s,i
ca.rj.?*^..--
218
Ckmfiiestqf Mexico faut ii. book ii«
dattffht^ a liberal fortune, and agrc^ that Garay should
estulish a colony on the river Palmas, in which he engaged
to ^tve him eveiy aasititance in his power. Garay now inter-
peTO(| with Cortes to allow Narvaez to return to Cuba, for
which favour Narvaez was extremely thankful, and took leave
of Cortes with many protessions oi ^ratit^dc. Soon afler-
wavds, Garay was seized with a pleurisy, of which he died in
four di^s, leaving Cortes and Father Oimedo his executors.
As his armament was left without a head, a competition arose
among his officers for the vacant command ; but young Ga-
my was ultimately made general. This gave great offence to
the soldiers, in consequence of which they dispersed about
the country in fmull bodies of fifteen or twenty men, pillaging
the natives as if the^ had been among Moors. This eniaffed
the Indians, who laid a plot to cut off the Spaniards, which
they executed so effectually that in a very short time they sa^
criiiccd md eat above five hundred of the soldiers of Garay,
in some of the towns upwards of a hundred of them being de*.
Mroyed at one time. In other places they fell upon the strag-
glers, whom they massacred abqost without resistance } anof
encouraged by this success, they even rose against the se|;tle^
ment of Estevan in such numbers, that they could hardly be
resisted by Valleio and seven or eight of the veterans of Corr
tea, who inducca many of Garays soldiers to abide by them
in the open field, where three battles were fought, in we of
which VaU^ was slain, and a great number of Spaniards
wounded. The Indians became at length so bold and defrr
perate, that they one nightkilled and burned forty Spaniards,
among whom were several belonging to Cortm, and destroyed
iifteen horses. When Cortes heard of tliese proceedings he
was mudi enraged, and would huve gone in person to sup^
press the rebeUion, but was then confined by a broken arm ; ,
wherefore hp sentfiouzalo de Sandoval, with 100 in&ntry,
50 cavalry, 15 musqueteers, and two field-pieces, accompa-
nied by 8000 Mexican and Tlascalan warriors, givinff orders
to reduce the country so completely under subjection that
they might not have pow^ to give any farther disturbance.
Sandoval was a person of much vigilance when he had any
important business in hand, and made no delay in marching
•gainst the memy, who had concentrated their forces in two
narrow defiles. Sandoval divided his forces into two bodies^
jbut was 80 obstinately resisted, that he drew off his forces,
teigning to retreat to Mexico, followed by the Indiana, whoni
T:fiA:'\ir.ii - ■'--^- . ' he
cMiiV. V. SECT. xti. hy HmmndoCoirtes.
fftf
)ance. \tf
he completely deceived, making an unexpected oountermarcli
at midniffht, Irjr which he guned poisession of the passes i
yet not tul he had lost three horses, and had a great many of
his men wounded. On passing the defiles^ he found himself
opposed in front by an immense body of Indians, who bad
ooUected on receivm^ notice of his countermarch. He con-
centrated his whole force into one solid column ; and aa his
cavalry were inexperienced in the service, he save them fiiO
instructions never to halt making thrusts, as the Indians ai>
ways seized the lances when wounded, and often wrested
man from the hands of our men ; but ordered them to dtt)
fiptirs to their horses on ench occasions, firmly grasping their
lances, and thus force them from the enemy by the strength
of their horses.' Having placed guards and patroles, and or-
dered the horses of thd cavalry to remain all night saddled
«nd bridled, he made the troops repose under arms on the
banks of a river, placing the Mexican and TIascalan warriors
at a short distance from the Spanish troops, knowing by. ex-
perience that the allies were of more harm than benefit in a
night attack. At day-break next morning, Sandoval put his
troops in motion, and was soon fronted by three large bodies
of the enemy, who endeavoured to surround him. Forming
his cavalry in two squadrons, he attacked the enemy with
such spirit that they were soon broken and dispersed, with
the loss of two soldiers and three horses on his side. Thie
flIUes made terrible havock after -this victory, burning and
phindering all before them, till the arrival of the army at St
Estevan. The remaiiis of this colony were found in a miser-
aUe condition, and the soldiers of Garay assured him that its
preservation was entirely owing to the bravery and conduct
of our few veterans who were there. Sandoval divided his
army into several bodies, which he entrusted to the command
of the veterans, and sent them to overrun the neighbouring
dhtricts, with orders to send in all the provisions they could
collect, being unable to go out himself, as he was badly
wounded. In the course of three days, his parties sent in
many prisoners of the ordinary class, and five chiefs; but
Sandoval released the common people, and ordered his troops
to make no more prisoners, except of such chiefs as had been
concmied in or present at the murder of the Spaniards. In
a few days Sandoval was able to take the field, ahd by skilful
measures he made prisoners of twenty caciques, who had
f:ommanded where no less than six hundred Spaniards were
, slain.
\
\
■%
':w^'.<.».';f"-;.-';'!*fc.&i-i»£u-3t,':;
?! ■■*■"
■'1
tto
ConfiuU tfMemco . pabt ii. book ii*
■lain. He then suminoned all the neigbbourihg towns to
send their chiefs to him to treat of peace and submission :
Some obeyed, but others nc^lccteti to attend* and ht thought
h best to dissimulate with the latter ibf the present, till he
Juid informed Cortes what had been already done* and had
teeeiTdd his oiders as to the disposal of the prisoners and bis
"loture procedure. Cortes, who now conferred the vacant
itfoinmand of St Estevan on Sanddval, ordered all who had
-twen any way concerned in the. murde# of the iii^aniards to
Im punished with death, as an exilmple to deter others lirom
Itting ffuitty of the like offence,, directing Diego de Ocampo^
M alqwichm^or, to take the necessary steps agninst them*
w&h orderi to execute all who should be found guilty. He
gave orders likewise to conciliate the natives by all possible
'uwans, arid to prevent the soldier» of Garay from Committing
illy future cfutnwes. Two days after the receipt of these or-
dersi^e accused caciques were brought to trial ; and many
-of th^m being found guilty by evidence, or by their owfn con-
'lessioti^ were publickly executed, some being burnt and others
hiitlgcfd. Many also^ were pardoned y aina .all the distHcts
which had belonged iio the caciques who suffered on this oc-
.ONioii^ were restored to their children or other.faeirs. 0<»m-
bo now proceeded against a)! those l^aniards who ha«l been
isttiity 01 outrages* going about the conntiT in bands, plun-
' oering aiid murdering the natives, or who had invited other
•oidiers to desert to them ; and having collected them toge-
^ ther, he shipped them off for Cuba, ^ To Juan de Graalva,
who had been commodore of the fleet under Garay, Cortes
'offered the alternative of a present of 2000 crowns, end a
mwsiuEe to Cuba, or an honourable reception at Mexico.
•^But Grijalva and all the other officers belonging to Garay
preferred going to Cuba. When Sandc^al and Ocampo had
.thus reduced the settlement to order, and clmifed it of these
^troublesome inmates, they returned to Mexico, leaving the
command at St Estevan to an officer named yallecillo; and
' <m their arrival at the capital, they were received by Cortes
and others with the distinction which their services richly
' merited •. >»<* ir>-r ^ t i Section
i s A very uninteretting episode, retpectmg the misfortunes <^ the Ikemate
Zuazo, who has been formerly mentioned^ is here omitted> as having no
j- reference vhatever to the general history in hand : It is sufficient to say that,
after manv perils by sea and land, Zuazocame to Mexico, where Cortes
gave him oie office of alcalde-major, which seems to have resembled our prs»
• V08t>mars}tal, or chief military judge.— E.
1-1
■.ff--^
;t <aM<>g
OOK II*
mm to
us^on :
Lhougbt
» till he
ind had
and hit
i vacant
irho had
iards to
its trom
JeunpOk
itt them,
Ity. He
possible
mmitting
these or-
nd many
omm con-
iid others
! districts
a this oc-
B. Ocam-
hadbeen
ids. plun-
|ted other
^em toge-
Grnalva,
r, Cortes
18, and a
Meidco.
Garay
ipo had
It of these
Mftg the
;iUo{ and
>y Cortes
:es richly
Section
^elicematc
having no
itosaythat,
Ihere Cortes
Itlcdoarpn*
CHAP. ▼. SECT. XTii. ly Hemondo Carta*
Section XVIf.
Narrative ^various Expeditions for the Beiuetion of different
Provinces tn New Spain,
As the views cf Cortes were always lofty, so was he alwaya ;
well supported bv the talents and bravery of his officers and -
soldiers. After his power was thoroughly established in ^ ^,
great city of Mexico and its more inunediate dependencies^ !
and in the districts or prorinccs of Chiaxaca, Zacstula, Coli- ;
ma, Vera Cruz, P&nuco, Coatzacuaico, and others, as already
related, he was informed that there were populous nations
and rich mines in the province of Guatimala ; and he resol* ':
ved to send a military force under Alvarado, to cOiiqu^ and
colonize that country. Alvarado, therefore, was di^atched
to that province, with 300 infantry, 135 cavalry, 200 TIasca-
lans and Cholulans, and 100 Mexicans ', and four fidd pieces.
Alvarado was instructed to bring those nations to submission
by peaceful means, if possible; and Father Olmedo aoccmi'
panied him, on purpose to preach the doctrines of our hdv
religion to the natives ; and at all events, to insist upon all
the prisons and cages that were used for human victims being
destroyed, the prisoners set free, and the utter abolition m
human sacrifices and cannibal feasts. This expeditibn left
Mexico on the 13th of December 1523 ; and Alvari^o duf^
ing his march, received the submission of the district Uhoflm
by the name of the Rocks of Guelama, where he received .!
many rich contributions in gold. Having passed the dis-
tricts belonging to the T^potecas of Tecuantepec, and by
Socomnoo, a town containing above 15,000 houses, Alvara^
do came to the neighbourhood of a place named Zapotitlan,
where, at a bridge over a river, he was opposed by a very
numerous body of warriors who disputed the passage witli so
mudi -braveiy, that many of the soldiers were wounded and
one horse kdlcd ; and it required three very hard fought
battles before the l^aniards were able to break through and
diroerse the enemy,
jnom this place, continuing his mihsh, Alvarado was con*
-""'■ tinuaUy
' 1 Thoorii without any warrant for this purpose, we believe that the
numbvi of these allies ought to have been reckoned by thousands instead of
hundreds.— >E.
V
\
• I
I
I
■i
i
■<■ I)
'>
^:,
I ;
3fli
Ctmquesi qf Mexico part ii. book ii*
tfaiualfy harttued by the Indians of Quetzaltenansot and caiQ»
at length to a defile in a high mountain, where the ascent was
about a league and a ,hal£ On arriving at the summit, a
remarkably ^at woman was found in the act of sacrificing a
dog, 'which is an infallible token of intended hostilities! and
immediately afterwards, great numbers of armed Indians
were seen advancing on aU sides, in a diificult broken ground,
where the cavalry of Alvorado were unable to act. In this
roudk and impracticable place, above 6000 of the warriors of
XJtt^an, a district adjoining to Quetzaltenango, made an at-r
tack upon our troops; and being soon put to flight, they
Tallied shortly after, reinforced oy great numbers of fresh
troops, who waited the advance of our forces, and fought them
bravely hapd to hand. On this occasion, three or four of
,the enemy uniting their cfibrts, used to seize a horse before
and oehind, endeavouring to pull him to the ground, and it
required the most strenuous exhortations both of Alvarado
.and Falther Olmedo to animate the exertions of our troops,
who at length succeeded in defeating and dispersing the In-
dians. Our army halted in the field of battle for three days,
unmolested by the imany, and then marched to Quetzake-
juqgo, where Alvarado hoped to have siven his troops some
repose; but he found two xiquipils of warriors, or 16,000
iilen assembled to expose him m a plain, where he save them
sp complete a defeat, with go heavy a loss of wamors, that
they remained for a long time under complete awe of the
.jSpaniards. The chiefs of these Indians sent a deputation to
Alvarado, c£^ring peace and submission, under which di^
;had concealed a plan for destroying his army in the following
Iroannec^ At a snort distance tnere was a place called Utat-
hxij in a very difficult rugged country, and surrounded by
.dmleii to which they invited him to march, intending to fall
upon nim there with all their forces, as in that place the cavaJry
could not act.
AlyArado accordinely marched to Utatlan, a town of con<
sidenible strength, which had only two gates, the ascent to «n 2
of which was by a stair of about twenty-five steps, and the o-
ther opened to a very bad broken causeway, the streets Ukewise
beii^ very narrow, and the houses very close together. Ob-
.serving the bad situation of this {dace, said that the women and
children had disappeared, Alvarado began to suspect that some
inischief was in contemplation ; and he was informed by some
.JIndians of the place he had last quittedj that a i||.u|iiber of
•Wtefa'ii sJwsiW'/Mi ■'^iSimiiiinreiriii. \i^
if>*^ita i'Ms •
ii$d' "'tiwartnors
i— ■
lOft II*
oiUP* V* sscT. XVII. ijf Memando Cortes.
mt
intwas
unit, a
idng a
sj aod
Indians
ground y
In Uus
mow of
e an at-r
bt, they
of fresh
ghttfiein
r four of
'se before
id, and it
Alvarado
X troops,
J ttie In-
iree days*
Quetzalte-
9ops some
or 16,000
gave them
riorsy that
iwe of the
utation to
rhich they
e following
ailed Utat-
ounded bv
ding to fall
the cavalry
wn of con-
icenttooP'
and the o-
!eU likewise
ther. Oi^
wompnand
ct that some
nedby some
number of
waitioT!^
warriors were conoeakd all round the plmet to which they
meant to set fire In the night, and then assault him with au
their forces. Alvarado immediately called his troops to arm8«
and marchetl out into the open country, telling the chiefs that
he did so for the purpose of procuring grass for his horses.
They did not seem pleased with this change i and as soon as
Alvarado was completely clear of the town, he seized the prin-
cipal cticique, whom he r^oroached for his treachery, and or-
dered to be burnt alive. Father Olmedo obtained a respite of
this sentence, with permission to endeavour to convert the con^
demned cacique to the holy faith, in which he exerted himself
a whole day, and at length succeeded: and, as an indulgence,
his punishment was commuted to hansing, and his territory
given to his son. After this, Alvaiack) attacked and dispers-
ed the native warriors who were in the neighbourhood of the
town. When this success became known in Guatimala, which
was engaged in hostility with the people of Utatlan, they sent
;an emMssy to treat with Alvarado before his arrival on their
frontiers, bringing a present of gold, declaring their submis-
sion to the government of our emperor, and oaring to serve
as allies in all our wai's. Alvarado accepted their submission
and offer of service, and desired them to send him 2000 of their
warriors, with which they immediately complied ; and as the
people of Utatlan had again rebelled, he remained eight days
in their country, collecting considerable spoil and making
many slaves ; atler which he marched to the city of Guatimala^
where he was hospitably received.
As the, utmost harmony subsisted between Alvarado and
the natives of Guatimala, the chiefs of that nation represented
to him that a nation in their neighbourhood, called the Altit-
lans, who occupied several strong fortresses on the side of a
lake, had refused to make submission to liim, and l|iat they
were a barbarous and malicious people. Alvarado sent a
message commanding these people to submit, but they abused
his messengers} on which he marched against them with
140 Spanish soldiers and 2000 warriors of the Guatimialans,
and was resisted by a strong force of the Altitlans, whom he
defeated with considerable loss, and piursued to their
soon
fortresses on the lake. Having driven them from these for-
tresses, they took shelter in an island of the lake, to which he
sent several of their chiefs whom he had taken prisoners, to
. persuade them into peace and submission, in which he at length
, Sticceeded, partly by threats and partly by promises, and re-
f ^" turnecl
\
( /
1/1
1
i
l«
nt
Conquest qfUfftcko tKiCt ft. book tr.
torned to Ovtatimala. Father Olmedo exert«tl himself to ofk
ftetiiially in his mission, that he prevailed wion the people to
imitate onr example, in adoring the holy Virgin, for which
purpose he erected an altar and image of our lady, and ex*
plained the mysteri^ of the Christian f lith to the nntives. A
people named the Pipiles, who came from a considerable dis^
tance towards the south, to enter into submission to AlvaradOy
informed him that a nation la their way, called the Izcuinte*
pecs, were of a malignant disposition, and maltreated all tra^
vdlera through their country. He sent, therefore, a message
to invite them to come in and submit, which they refused to
comply with ; for which reason he marched into tht ir country
with his whole force, united to a strong body of bis air<.s oif
Guatimala, and made great liavock amfmg them. Not having
been present in this expedition, as I did not go into the pro-
"vmce of Guatimala until my return from Higueras, \ have on-
ly given a short summary of the conquest of Guatimala and
its dependencies, which may be found related at full length in
a booK written by Gonzalo de Alvarado.
About this time Cortes was informed thnt the provinces of
Hifgaetu and Honduras contained rich mines, and some sai-
lors rqsorted that the native fishers of these countries used
weights to dieir nets made of gdd mixed with copper ; they
dieged i^, that a strait or passage would probably be found
in mat direction into the Pacific Ocean. On these accounts
lie determined to send some troops to that country under
Cluristoval de OH, to inquire afler the mines, and to search
fi>r this reported strait, by which a communication might be
opened with the Spice Islands ; and as the way by land was
long and difficult, it was determined to send this expedition
by sea. Accordingly, de OK embarked in six ships, with a
force of .d70 soldiers, 100 of whom were musqueteers and
crossboWmen, and 2ti cavalry. Five of the veteran conquerors
of Mexico went along with mis expedition ; among whom was
one Briones^ a seditious fellow and a bitter enemy of Coites ^
besides whom* many of the soldiers on this expedition were
greatly dissatisfied at the unequal distribution of^ lands whidi
Bad been made in New Spain. De OH was ordered to go
first to the Havanna, to procure a supply of provisions and
necessaries, and then to pursue his voyage to tne Higueras to
Ibi&e the necessary inquiries for the reported mines and
straits ; after which he was to build a town in some commo-
dious situation. To advance the interests of our holy rc^gion,
he
ooK in
f •0 0*
lople to
r whidi
and '«x*
ive». A
able dit^
jvarad^,
d all tra>
, message
•efusedto
r country
i all^» ^
ot having
> th« pro-
I haveoli-
imala and
I length in
ovinces oi
some sai-
ntries u«ed
)pcr} they
y be found
e accounts
ntry under
to search
might be
y land was
expedition
ip», with a
leteers and
conquerors
whom was
of Coitesn
dltion were
^tnds whi<ch
ered to go
risions and
nHigoerasto
[mines and
joe cofflino-
Wy rdigion,
^ he
«3^v. % ttcr. XTir. Igf Henumdo Cartes*
m
ke ~ «. pi^ovided with two Jrian^ <me Qf whom mffonfiaod ih*
Mexicaa kngufge. At tl» H•v«nlM^ de OU took on b^aio
five of ihe loIlQwers of Qfray, i^ bad been eiqfH^^ froni
Papnico for seditious condiiQt, whoiKgnitiii^ d^nuelyei iiiifl|
bis confidence» and. advised luin to renounce hii obedience t/c^
Cortiai* in which they were aided by 9rione«i sq thiit bib at
length went over to the pair^ of Veliuiqiieif who en|a|(ed t«»
lOaEe such representations at coigurt that the conMumid «f tbis
intended seitlement mi|dit be givoi to de OU indepepdent of
G>rtes. De Oli was a orave iaa«> and endow;ed wUb omoj
good qualities, yet unfit for bis present eiuployoieittK buying
Been broudbt up in the house of Ve|asque>, so that be wfjis toe
more readUy influenced by \)ad advisors to desert the iiitereBk
of Cortes to whom he lay under great obligi^ims. On ibm
^rd of May, de Oli arrived at his station, which he n#m(4
jSI Triwa^ho de la CVus, where he sfipoiint^ to t,\i» ciinpl acU
ministration of the new c(dony, such alcaldes and regidors af
had been recommended by Cortes, and even toc^^possesuQ^
of the country for bis majesty in the name .of Qci^rt^,,fu(be
wished to conceal his secession from our generel fill ne saw
whether the country was suflSciently rich to be worth wbiJe to
set up an independent government j as, if it turned otft oibeiy
wise, he could return to bis possesisions in Mexico, and gloii
over his n^ociations with Velasquez, under pretence of ni^v*
in^ done so in order to procure the necessary supplies. In
this manner was the new colony of £1 Triumpbo estaUisbed^
firom whence Cortes had no intelligence for more than eig^j;
nMmths.
There were a considerable number o^ vetcarans and S^pa*
niards of rank, established in the town of CoatzacuacJo, otber-
wise called Del fisplritu Santo, who were entrusted with the gnr
Tomment of that province, together with the districts of CStla*
Tabasco, Cimatan, Cboutalp^ Cacbula, SSoque, the Quilenes^
CwacAtui, Chamuela, Chiapa, Piqsanahausta, Pinula, Xahe-
pep,HuaxaItepec,C3iinahtla,Tepeque,andother8{ buttbrougb
dlNew Spain, the demand for tribute was the sumal ctf insurrecr
tion, and all who attempted to levy it were kuled, as wore a9
^pwiards who fell into the hands of the natives j so that we
were continually obliged to go from one town to ^otbor witl^
a company of soldiers to preserve peace. As tbe district o^
Ciou^ was particularly refractory, and Ciqptain I<uis Marin
could not convenienUv send a body <^ troops to tb^t place, I
?nd three other Spaniards were sent there to endeavour to
r. vojL IV, p prevail
926
Conquest of Mexico part ii. book ii.
prevail on the people to aubmit, Qn approaching the princi-
pal town, we were attacked by a large oodv of Indians, who
lulled two of qiy companions, and wounded me desperotely in
Ae throat ' My surviving companion made off to some anoes
bn the banks of the river Macapa, leaving me alone and in
flreat jec^ardy } but I crept under cover or some bushes where
1 lay some time dmost ejcnausted, and recovering my strength
fifter some time, 1 forced my way through the natives, and
escaped to where my companion was in tiie canoes, with four
Indians whom we had brought with us to carry our ba|«affe,
which th^ hi|d Uirown away, and for the sake of whKn tne
natives quitted us^ so that we got across the river, which is
broad ^nd deep and full of alligators. To avoid the Indians,
we concealed ourselves for eight days in the woods, 90 that
we were concluded to be lost, and our property in lands and
Indians was divided among the other Spaniards, such being
then the custom in New l^min. We returned to the town,
however, ^ the end of twenty-three days, to the great joy
of our friends, and the disappointment of those who had sue*
ceeded to our properly.
' Our ciiq>tain, Luis Marin, thought proper to wait upon
Cortes, to represent the necessity of a reinforcement ; and ac-
tordingW got thirty soldiers, commanded by Alonzo de Grado,
with orders for all the Spaniards at Coatzacualco to march
for the province of Chiapa, which was then in a &tate of rebel-
lion, and directions to build a town there to keep the natives
in order. In the first place, ^e hod to make roat\.. through
the woods, and the country being very marshy, we were under
the necessity of constructing causeways in many places to cn-
iable the horses to pass. Tne first place we came to was Tez-
' )^utzlan, and thence to Cachula, beyond which there had been
no passage before our expedition, all the other natives bdng
in great fear of the inhabitants of Chiapa, who were then the
tnravest warriors in all America, and had never been subdued
by the Mexicans ; but they were extremely barbarous, being
in use to rob all passengers, and to carry away the natives m
other districts to till their ground. The present expedition
was during Lent, and as well as [ can now remember, in the
.year 1524, our little army consisting of- 27 cavalry, 23 mus-
keteers, 72 foot soldiers armed wiUi sword and target, and
one field-piece under the direction of a cowardly fellow of a
ffiumer, who pretended to have served in Italy. Besides
.^^, we had m Mexican warriors, and the cacique of Ca-
2 ehida
.f^mm^i
prind-
t, who
otely in
> anoet
and in
>s where
strength
reSt and
rithftmr
Mflsage,
hwhthe
which ift
Indians*
, 90 that
anda and
ich being
he town,
great joy
I had sue-
R^t upon
t; andac-
de Grado,
to march
;e of rebel-
he natives
., throuflh
rere under
aces to en-
owas Tez-
e had been
ives being
retlienthe
SI subdued
ous, beinjt
! natives 01
expedition
bier, in the
23 mus-
rget, and
jlfow of a
Besides
que of Ca-
'^ ch\d»
-CHAP. V. SECT. XTii. by HetnondoCoHts,
chula with some of his principal people, who were all terribly
afraid. On approaching Chiupa, an advanced guard of four
of our most active soldiers, or whom I was one, always pre-
ceded the army to reconnoitre, and as the ground was not fit
for a horse, I left mine behind. We were usuallv about half
a league in front of the army, but on our approach to Estapa,
thar first settlement, some of the hunters or ChiiqiM perceived
IIS at a distance, and gave the alarm by means of smoke. The
road was now wide and convenient, uetween well cultivated
fields of corn and other vegetables } and on oominff to Estapa
we found it abandoned by the inhabitants, on whicn we post-
ed our 0iards and patroles, and took up our quarters for the
night. We were soon disturbed by information from our out-
guards, diot the natives were collecting on every side to at-
tack us; and, goiuff out of town to meet them we had a
severe action, in which they killed two of our soldiers and
four horses, wounding our reverend father Fra Juan, and
^irteen soldiers, including our captain Luis Maria, who was
wounded in two places ; besides which, many of our allies
were slain. This action lasted till dark night, when the
enemy were forced to retire, leaving fifteen slain and manjr
wounded in the field. From two ofthe wounded, who seen»>
«d chiefs, we learnt that a general attack was intended^^nst
us next day. These people were dothed in good defensive
armour of quilted cotton, using darts hardened in the fire,
war clubs, and lances longer than ours, and they fought with
. unusual bravery ; insomuch that, when one of our horsefnen
halted to make a thrust, the Indians seized the horse, and
either wrested the lance from the horseman or puUed him to
the ground.
I^xt day we pursued our mardi to Chiapa, a place with
very r^ilar streets, and containing not less than four thou-
sand families, besides the dependent towns and villages around.
Wc had not proceeded above a quarter of a league firom
Estnpa, where we had passed the night, when we round the
whole warriors of the district drawn up to oppose us, wdl
armed, dressed up in plumes of feathers, and maldnff the hills
resound with their warlike shouts. Tliey attacked us with
the utmost fury, and our black gunner was so sti^ified with
fear, that he stood long tmnbling before he durst put the
match to the gun, and when he fired the piece all the good
he did was wounding three of our own men. After a severe
conflict, we at length forced them to fly ; but they rallied in
some
Conquest <ifMt*ieo pabt ii. book ii.
loine broken groundt reinforced by some fresh bodies of In«
diiuaaj luad attacked us again by surprizot while we were giv-
ing God thanks for our victory. In these new troops, many
wei^ provided with bng thongs to twist round our bonea,
fod some carried the nets thev used in hunting for the same
piupoae. In this second hsttle the enemy were so detf)erate
U)4t they killed two of our soldiers and five horses, and scarce
<m9 of lis etci^ped without a wound. They had along with
them a very fiit afled woman, whom they esteemed a wizard*
who had promised them the victory. Her body was all co-
vered over with paint mixed with cotton wool ) and she ad-
vanced liearlesslv amid our allies, who were regularly formed
by companies, by whom she was cut to pieces. At lengthy
\^ a violent ^ort, we forced the enemy to fly^ some taking
to thp rocks and others to Uie river, and being excellent
jswimmers the^ made their escape. We then halted and sung
the Salve regtna : After which we took possession of a town
on the river, where we halted for the night, taking care of our
wounded, and carefully concealing our dead.
. About midnight, ten chiefs of neighbouring districts came
down the river in five canoes, and were brouffht to our cap-
Uin, whom they informed that they belonged to the nation
^f the Xaltepecs, who were at war with the people of Chiapa,
^d came to o£Eer their assistance to us against them, on con-
dition that we should afterwards support the independence
of their nation against the people of Chiapa. lhi« was very
satisfoctory to us, as we could not have passed the river, which
was both Droad and deep, without their asviiitance } the chie&
were therefore di&missed witli a promise on our part of pro-
tection, and on theirs to brine us canoes and auxiliaries. Du-
irinff the remainder of the n^t we had to keep strict guard,
j» the drums and horns of the enemy were heard on the op*
posite banks of the river, where their warriors were collecting
from aD sides to attack us. As soon as it was light, our new
friends joined us with the promised canoes, and bhewed us a
very dangerous ford, which they urged us to pass without
dday* that we might endeavour to save the lives of some of
their people who had been recently made prisoners by the
enemy. We accordinsly passed the river in a solid ctuumn
at the ford, which reached our armpits^ and where we lost
one of our cavalry. On gaining the opposite bank, we were
fo hotly assailed by the enemy with darts and arrows, that
fvery oj^e of us had two or three wounds before we got out of
.,>^ ■ • '■' the
•HAP. T. tKR*. xni. ijf ffernando Cortei*
tf9
tfie wiUr. But u we were now joined by large bodies of
tiioie Indians who had offered their aMistance, we soon com-
pelled the enemy to fly for shelter to their city, against which
We immediately advanced In good order, accompanied bvour
new alllM. Cm arriving there, it seemed too closehr built to
be occupied with safety, and we encamped therefore in the
ODMi fiekl, sending messengers to invite tnem to peace, with
wnich they complied, by sending a deputation of their chieA,
who submitted to become subject to our sovereign, and re-
ouirlng that the neighbouring tribes might be prevented froi^
aestroying their houises and plantations. All these things
being settled to our mutual satisfaction, we went into the
town, where we found manv prisoners confined in wooden
cages, who had been seized by the Chiapese while travelling
from place to place, all of whom we set free. In the temples
Of this place we found several idols of horriMe figures, and
manv remains of man and boys, who had been recently sacri-
deed. Our reverend father Fra Juan, broke all the idols to
pieces, and preached so successfully that manv were baptized.
Many of the chiefs of the neighbouring tribes came in and
made their submission: Among these were the chiefs of
Cinacatan, Pnpanahaustla, Pinola, Ouehuistlan, Chamula, the
Quilenes, and others who spoke the Zoque language, and
many other tribes, the names of which I do not now remembeiv
These people were much surprised when they perceived the
smallness of the force with which we had ventured to attack
a nation so warlike as the Chiapese, whom the Mexicans .
were never able to subdiK.
While our captain was thus occupied in arranging matters
with tlie chie& of the surrounding districts, one ofour soldiers
went accompanied by eight Mexicans, to a town called Cha-
mula, where he demanded a contribution of gold in the name
of our captain, though entirely without authority. A ^uan-i
tity was accordingly ofFo'-ed him; but not being satisfied
with the amount, he attempted to seize the cacique, by whicU
violent proceeding he occasioned an insurrection of tha^
town, atid another in the neighbourhood called Quiahuitlan
or Ouehuistlan. When this improper transaction came ioi
the ears of our captain, he sent the soldier a prisoner to
Mexico, and immediately marched to Chamula to qudl thtf
insurrection, being assisted on this ^xxasion by the inhabr*
tants of Cinacaitan, a polished tribe which was addicted t^ '
merchandize. On our arrival at Chamula, we found AH
plac*
~**dLX'^^--«^*'^*'
850
Conquest of Mexico faiit ii. book ii.
place strongly fortified by art and naturet and the people
well (irmed) having a peculiar speciesof large shield which
covered the; whole oody, and could be rolled up into a small
coropan when not in use. Our cavalry were ordered to ke^
ffuard in the plain in our rear, to watch the motions of the
insurgents in the neighbouring district^; while the in&ntry
endeavoured to force their way into the town j but our mus-
keteers made very little impresnon, as the enemy were cover-
ed by their walls, while their missiles injured us materially,
being exposed without any defence. We continued the at-
tadc durmg the whole day to very little purpose, being unable
to force the ramparts, which were guarded bv above 2000
men armed with lances. We therefore drew off for thetimc,
and procured some timber from a depopulated town in the
neighbourhood, with which we constructed certain machines
named manias or burros, under cover of which twenty men
or more could approach the wails in safety, to work a passage
through them. On our first attempt to do this, the enemy
threw down upon oiir machines, heavy stones, fire, and
scalding water, so that we were constrained to remove our
machines to repair the injury they had sustained. We again
brought forward our machines to the walls, and at length
succeed in making several breaches. While employed in
this manner, four of their principal chiefs and priests addres-
sed us from the top of the ramparts, saying, since we wanted
gold they had brought us some, and then threw over seven
crowns of fine gold, with many gold trinkets, some of which
wci'e cast in the shape of various oirds, shells, and the like;
imrocdlately after which they assailed us with repeated vollies
of darts, arrows, and stones. By the time that it was dark, we
had made two considerable breaches ; but as a heavy rain
came on, we drew off for the night, keeping a vigilant guard
round our post, and having our cavalry on the alert in the
plain, ready saddled and brloled. Dunn^ the whole night,
the enemy kept continually sounding their warlike instru-
ments, making horrid yells, and threatening us with destruc-
tion next day, which they said was promised by their gods.
We brought forward our machines again at day^ireak to en-
large the breaches we had made on the preceding day ; but
the enemy defended themselves with ereat obstinacy, wound-
ing five of our people, and myself among the rest by the
thrust of a lance, which had gone through me, had it not
been for the strength of my quilted cotton armour. Towards
'-'/■■■ ■.''■• ■",.•"-■ evening-
CHAP. V. SECT. XVII. ^ Hermndo Cortes,
m
evening it came on again to rain hard, and we were called off
from the attack { but as the enemy ceiued to shout and make
their usual noises, I su&pected they were about leaving the
town, and perceived also that their lances were mostly, rested
atfainst the walls and parapets, except about two hun^lred
which still appeared in the hands of a part of theenemv.
On this, I and one of my comrades crept in at a small bream
in the -wall, and were immediately attacked by above two
hundred of these lancemen, who would soon have dispatched
us, if some of our Indian allies had not noticed our perilous
situation, and called the rest of our soldiers to our aid, who
crowded in at the breach and soon enabled us to put the
enemy to flight. These were only the rear guard of the gar-
rison, all the rest of the inhabitants, men, women, and oiil-
dren, having evacuated the town by the opposite gate; We
immediately pursued, and made many prisoners.
Leaving this place, we marched for Cinacatan, and halted
for the night at the place where Chiapa de los I^panoles is
now built ; from whence our captain dismissed six ot our pri-
soners, with a message to their countrymen, offering to re-
store all the rest of the prisoners, if they would submit They
immediately complied with this, and submitted themselves as
subjects to the Spanish monarchy. In this neighbourhood
dwelt a nation called the Guehuistlans *, who possessed three
fortified towns, and were in rebellion against us. Leaving
our baggage and wounded men in Cinacatan, we proceeded
to reduce these people to submission. They had barricaded
all the approaches to their towns bv means of felled trees,
which were cleared away by the aid of our Indian allies, and
we got up to one of their fortresses, which threatened to give
us infinite trouble, as it was full of warriors, well armed both
for offence and defence. But they all fled when we mounted
to the assault, leaving the place to us without resistance. By
means of two prisoners who were taken by our allies, offers of
peace and good treatment were sent to them, on condition of
submission ; with which they complied, bringing with them
some trifliuff presents of gold and quetzal feathers.
Having thus effected our business in this place, by redu-
cing all the surrounding tribes to submission, we proceeded,
■^^ according
S Diaz U often variable In h'ls ortliography of Indian names i calling this
people in different places, Gueguestitlans, Guebuistlano, and Quiabuistlan*.
^99
Conquat ofjUexic9
nUtT II. BOOS lu
aoeoitlingtoiiw orden of Cortes, to leitaUiah • edony, U;ougli
9om» who had already phuatations and Indians in CoatcacU'^
aico ok^ectad to this place as unfit for cavalry, and that oar
fbroe was too small for keqiin^ so populous a cUstrict undet
sttli^ection, eqiedally as the natives had many strcmg fortress
seS in the fitttnesses of their mountains. Even our captaiut
Itois Marin, and the royal notary Dkfp> de Godoy, were
adverse to the plan. Alonso de Orado, also, a very trouble*
some fellow, wa*' possened of a patent firom Cortes, by which
he was entitled to an encomienda in the province of Chiapa^
when reduced to obedience ; and in virtue of this, he demand-
ed that all the gold which had been received frmn the In«
diaiis of Qiiiqia, and also, that which had been found in the
tonples, amounting to about 1500 crowns, should beueliver^
td up to him. This was refused by Marin, who allM^ thet
J't ought to be applied for redacing the horses whfch were
pilled during the expedition. These disputes ran so hi^^
that our captain ordered both Godoy and De Orado iii!
irons, intending to s^nd them to Mexico. Godoy obtait '^
bis liberty by concessions ; and in return for this tenity en*
tered into cabals with De Grado for misrepresenting the con-
duct of Marin to Cortes. On this occasion I was solicited to
write to Cortes in exculpation of De Orado, as they said thai
€!ortes would believe my statements. I wrote accordingly a
true state of the case, but in no respect charging Marin with
imy thing amiss. De Grado was sent off to Mexico, under
tai oath to appear before Cortes in eighty days, as the di»»
tanee he had to travel exceeded 190 leagues. On his arrival,
(fortes was so much di^leased by his conduct, that he ordei>
ed De Orado to take SOOO crowns and retire to Cuba, that
he might give no fixrther trouble in his government ; but De
Orado made such ample apologies, that he was restored to
frvbur. As it was finally resolved to establish a coloi^ bat
tins place, and as I had an order to that eflect from Cortes»<
oar captain, who was likewise my particular friend, appoint-
ed me to the command o{ the encomienda at Cinacatan, which
I enjoyed for eight yean. As soon as possible after my ap*
Kintment, I procured a reverend father to preach to the
dians, whom I was anxious to convert to our holy faith*
He accordingly erected an altar and crucifix, and preached
with so much success, that fifteen of the Indians ofiered them-
selves for baptism on the first day of his mission ; whicU
gave me infinite satisfoctioui as I felt the warmest interest in.
«ikAV. T. tier. trii. fy Henumdo Cortet,
§iM'
the welfiu« of these people, whom I looked upcm asmy own
chqdreii.
Wlien all thiiigt were properijr settllBd at thb pleice, we ne-
•ohrdl to cfaaitue die people 6f CSmatan who had shun i^
'lyf^tfat par^ with which I hbd been deputed to diem, iu^fatii
meriy mentbned near the ljq;inning of this section. In 6vct
way to that place, we had to inarch through a district namieidl
T«pdDh^ which was so very nigged that our horses were ii^
tklk to proceed until the roads were cleared for them, %bic1i
was immediately done on application to the caciques. Wo
continued our miurch by the districts of Silo, Suchiapa, and
Coyumelapa, to those of Tecomayatacal and Ateapan ; the
chief town of which was intensive, dosefy built, and vary
populous. This place belonged to my encomienda, Ntnr
this town there was a large and deep river which it was ne^
cessary for us to pass, where we were opposed by the people
of the vicinity with so much vigour that we had six sMdiera
wounded and three of our horses killed ; but we put them to
flight, and they withdrew into the woods and mountains,
after setting fire to their town. We remained here five days,
taking care of our wounded men ; and as we had taken many
of the women of this district, some of them were sent out to
invite the natives to return and submit, with which thcnr
complied. Oodoy was averse from the lenity shewn on thui
occasion, and insisted that these people ought to be punished
for their revolt, or at least made to pay for the hrarses whick
they had slain. I happened to be <h^ a difierent opinion |
and as I spoke freeJy, Oodoy became enraged and used very
angry words, which 1 retorted. At lenffth we proceeded to
blows and drew our swords ; and if we had not been parted
one or other of us must have been killed, we were both so
much enff^god. Even as it was, several cuts were given and
received on both sides, before we were separated; Marin
was a good man and of a mild di^sition, so thri he re-
stored ev6ry thing to these deluded people and left them in
peace.
We continued our march through the other districts of
Cimatlan and Talatiopau, where we were attacked by a niH
merous body of archers, by whom above twenty of bur sol-
diers were wounded and two horses killed ; but we very soon
defeased them. Thepe people were the most powerftil archen
i had yet seen, as they were able to drive their arrows through
tiro suits of weH quilted cotton armour \ and their country is
* . , , mostly
■ v
%
\\
I
V
^^
Con^mt ^Mexico part ii. ^ok ii^
Bioillf composed of a marsh which quakes under huL. £^
was in vain therefore to think of pursuing the natives in siid|
aa impradiipaUe country ; and as thev treated all our oifers
of peace with contempt, w» judged it best to return to w»,
cobny of Coatzacualco ; which we did throu^ the ^stricts
of Ouimango, Nacaxa, Xuica, Twtitlan, Copdco, and some
others whioi I do not remember the names of, to TJkqpa, and
thmce across the rivers Agaqualulco and Tonala to Coatju^
cuaico, where the slain ho^'ses were paid for at the rate of a
penny the pound.
I V-
Section XVIII.
Negociations of Cortes at the Court of Spain f in respect tothi
Conquest and Government of Mexico,
In the year 1521, the holv father Adrian de. Lobayana,
succeeded to the pnoacy, he lieing then governor of Castillo
and resident in the aty of Vittoria, where our agents waited
upon him to kiss the foot of his holiness. About die rame time
a great nobleman, named M. de la Soa, arrived from Ger-
many, who was chamborlain to our emperor, and was sent by
him to congratulate the new pope on his election. When
this nobleman was informed of the heroic deeds of the con-
ouerors of Mexico, and the great things they had performed
n>r the extension of the hofy faith, by the conversion and
baptism of such myriads of Indians, he became interested in
our behalf, and made application to his holiness to expedite
the business of our agents. This was readily acceded to, aa
besides the allegations of our ocents, the pope had received,
other complaints against the bi^op of Burgos from persons
of quality and honour. Our chief agents on this occasion
were Francisco de Montejo, Diego de Ordas, Francisco
Nunez cousin to our general, and' his father Martin Cortes (
who were countenanced by many powerful noblemen, and
chiefly by the Duke of Bejar. Thus supported, they brought
forward their charges against the bishq;> to good purpose.
Tliese were, that ^^lasquee had bribed the bishop by the gUt
of a considerable district in Cuba, the natives or which were
made to work in the gold mines for hj* emolument, to the
manifest injury of the royal revenue. That when, in 1517f
1 10 of us had sailed at our own expenceundv the commiwd
CHAP. V. sscT. XTiii. ^ Hemondo Cortet,
235
of Hernandez de Cordova for the discovery of New Spain,
the bithop had falsety informed his n- ajesty that it was done
by Velasquez. That Velasquez had transmitted 20,000
crowns in gokl, which had been procured by his nephew
Juan de Gnjalva on our second voyage, all of which was given
to the bishop, and no part of it to his majesty to whom it
belonged. That when Cortes sent home a large contribution
in gout to his miyesty, the bishop had suppressed our letters,
ftubstituting others, and ascribed the present to Velasquez,
retaining naif of the treasure to his own use ; and, when
PuertQcarrera applied to him for permission to wait upon his
majesty, the bishop had thrown him into prison, where he
died. That the bishop had forbidden the officers of the
Casade corUratation oi^v'iWe to fgne any assistance to Cortes,
^ which the public t.ervice hud sidtered manifest injury,
'uiat he had appointed very unfit persons to the mUitary
command in Kew Spain, as was particularly the case with
r^ard to Christoval de Tapia, to whom he had given a CDm>
mission as governor of New Spain, in order to bring about a
marriage between his niece and Tapia. That he had given
authenticity to the false accounts transmitted by the agents
of Velasquez, suppressing the true relations which came
from Cortes. There were many other charges against the
bishop which he could not gainsay, aa they were all substan-
tiated by good evidence.
All tnese things being made dear to his holiness, he was
pleased to order, that the bishop should have no longer any
authority in regard to the affairs of New l^ain, of which the
government should be conferred on Cortes, and that Velas-
quez should be remunerated for all the expences he had in-
curred on account of the expedition, which he could duly
substantiate. His holiness sent also to New Spain, a great
number of indulgences for the hospitals and churches, and re-
commended to Cortes and the other conquerors to pay unre-
mitting attention to the conversion of the Indians, and was
pleased to send us his holy bulls of absolution. His majesty
graciously confirmed all these orders of the pope, ordering
Velasquez to be deprived of the government of Cuba, on ac-
count of having sent the expedition under Narvaez, in defi-
ance of peremptory orders to the contrary from the r^al
audience of St Domingo, and the Jeronymite brethren. The
bishop was so much anectcd by his disgrace on this occasion,
thpt he fell dangerously ill.
About this time, IPanfilo de Narvaez and Christoval de
•f
4
Tapia
' i
!
m
Conquest 6J mtkieo
PART il, BOOK If «
Tapis arrived in S^ain, tocher with the pilot UmVria and
Cardenas, who by the initiation of the bfshqp of fi||r]^a
preferred itiajav severe accusfUions upunit Cortex to hit majes-
ty, in whidi they were gladly joined by the agents of Velas-
quex. Thcpr alle^, that Velasquez had fitted out three Seve-
rn emcditions for New £^in at vast expenoe, the test of
whi«h he had confided to Cortes, who brdce his engagements
rad converted the armament to his own advantage. That
when Velasquez sent Narvaez as governor of New i^^ain, with
his majesties commission, Cortes made war upon him, defttu •
cd him and made him a prisoner. That when the bishop of
Burgos sent Tapia to take the command of New &)aln in the
name of his majesty, Cortes refused obedience, and oompdled
him to re-embark. They also accused Cortes of havinff em-
bezzled a great quantity of cold which he had obtain^ for
his majesty; of taking a Mh of all the plunder to his own
use ; of having torturra Guatimotzin ; of defrauding the sol-
diers of their snares j of making the natives of Mexico con-
struct for his use magnificent palaces and castles as lars^ as
villages ; of having poisoned Francisco de Oaray, in order to
get possession of his ships and troops, and many other charges
of a similar nature. 9v command of his nuyesty, a court of
inquiry was appointed from the privy council, to hear and de-
termine upon these alle^tions, before which the following
answers were given in. That Cordova was the real discover-
er of New Spain, which had been done by him and his com-
panions at their own cost. That although Velasquez had
sent Juan de Grijaha on an expedition to New Spain, it was
only for the purpose of trade, and not of colonization. That
the principal charges had been expended by the di£^rent cap-
tains, and not by Velasquez, who had received the chief part
of !i!0,000 crowns which these captains had collected. That
Vdasquez gave Indians in Cuba to the bishop of Burgos to
collect gold for him, which ought to have belonged to his
majesty. That although it was true Velasquez had sent Corte§
to New Spain, his or£rs were only to barter ; and the estab-
lishment he had made was entirely owing to the representations
of his companions for the service of God and his majesty, and
in no respect due to the instructions of Velasquez. That it
was well known to all, that Cortes had reported the whole of
his proceedings to his mighty, to whom ne and his comp»-
nions sent all the gold they could procure, waiting his mafe»;
ties ultimate orders in the utmost humility j whereas the bi-
shop
f^iV. v» SBC7T. xviii. bf Hernando Corte^
S37
^op ofBuigM tuppreMed hb letten, and appropriated the gold
to^i omn use* conceaUog our meritoriow serricei from hk
mt^mtyt preventing our agents from gaining acceu to the em^
peror* and even tlvowing one of them into prison, where he
died; and that he prevented the royal officers from supplying
us with tneh thin^^ as we needed, by which our entecprize
had beep ^nch retarded. That all these things had heen
4one by the bishop from corrupt motives, that he mi|ght give
the government of Mexico to Velasquez or Tama, in P^'der
that one of tnem might marry his niece Donna Petrcniua de
Fonseca, being anxious to make his son^iu'lav) goverinor of
that splendid kingdom. As for the expedition of Narraez,
our agents contended that Velasquez ougnt to suffer deatli lor
having sent it in direct disobedience u his majesties orden
as communicated by the royal audience ; and that he had b^
haved with high disrespect to his majtacy, in making his ap»
plication to the bishop of Burgos on this occasion. In siqpport
of all these accusations they offered to bring substantial prooft*
and prated the court to award punishment for these mu|ti||U*
In reply to the accusations ofNarvaez against Cortes, va^
represented, that Narvaez sent word to Montezuma on his ar-
rival in Mexico, that he came to rescue him, by which he oo*
casioned a dangerous war. That when Cortes desired to see
his commission, and represented the necessity of an amicable
junction of their forces for the good of the service, Narvaez
would give no answer, but immediately declared war against
Cortes and his companions, by which they were forced to de-
fend themselves, and that Narvaez had even presumed to
seize his majesties oydor, for which Cortes deemed it requisite
to bring him to punishment. That when Cortes went to wait
on Narvaez, that he might see his commission and remonstrate
^th him on his proceedings, Narvaez had attempted to make
him prisoner by surprise, of which proof could be made by
witnesses. As to the failure of Garay, and the ridiculoua
charge of having poisoned him ; it was well known that the
expedition under Garay had failed through his own miscon-
duct and iffnorance of the country ; after which he had glad-
ly accepted the friendly offers of Cortes, who had given mm
an bo^itable reception in Mexico, where an alliance waa a-
greed upon between tiieir families, and Garay was to have
been assisted in establishing a colony on the river Palmas i
and finally, it was established beyond all doubt, by the oaths
K
^
\SJ
^l
:
I'
f
^\
sss
Conquest of Mexico
VART ir. BOOK IT.
of the phyricians who attended him, that Oaray had died of
a jplenniy. In regard to the charge of retaining his. nu^iMties
fifth, it was provra that Cortes had fiurly expended it m the
public service, together with €000 crowns of his own proper-
ty. That the fifui which he had retained for himself, was ao-
cordinjB^ to compact with the toldiers i and as to the shares
beiongmg to the soldiers, it was well known that Tcry litde
gold was found in Mexico on its capture, as almost all the
wealth of the place had^ fallen into the hands of our allies of
Tlascala and Tezcuco. That the torture given to' Ouatimot-
ztn bi!d been done by his miyesttes officers, contrary to the
inclination of Cortes, in order to force a discovery of where
the treasures of Montezuma hod been concealed. As for the
buildliigs, though certainly sumptuous, they were intended
for the use of ms majesty and his successors, and ^t the
Work hod been carried on by the Indians, under the order of
Ouatimotzin, as wan always done in building houses for the
peat in that country. As to Alonzo de A^a having taken
the commission IJroni^ Nurvaez by force ; it appeared there was
no commission among his papens, which consisted entirdv of
receipts for tlie purchase of horses and the like { and iarther^
that these papers hod been taken without any order from
Cortes, who never saw any of them. As for Tapia, it was
urged, that if he had come to Mexico and produced his ma-
jesties orders, tliey should have been received and ob^ed by
Cortes with the utmost huniiKty : But that his incapacity wa»
so notorious to every one then in New Spain, that it was the
universal advice and desire of all tliat Cortes should retain the
command. As to the pilot Umbria, whose ibct Imd been cut
off, this had been done in the due course of justice, for having
run away with his ship. That Cardenas had consented along
with all the rest to give up his share of the gold, that the
whole might be sent to his majesty ; and that Cortes had
given him 300 crowns from his own pocket, which was
more than he deserved, bring a person of no consideration
and no soldier.
r The court having duly weighed all the charges and an>
iiwers, the whole proceedinf^s were reported to his majesty, to-
gether witli their opinion and sentence, 'which were entirely
in fkvour of Cortes, whose merit and valour, and that of aJl
the veteran conquerors of Mexico, were highly praised. Ve-
lasquez was enjomed silence in respect to his complaints ngainst
Cortes, and was told that he mignt seek for the remuneration
■j^ ,■. ,..■,.■■- •.."'.. -.»■, - ,.
OK IT.
lied of
ijeitles
in the
wropet-
ufaH ac-
! thiiTes
aUthe
lUiea of
tatiinot-
f to the
f where
I for the
intended
that the
order of
!S for the
ag ti^n
ihere was
Qtirelv of
1 farther,
^er from
ia, it wei
I his mar
.beyedhy
jacitywa*
it was the
retain the
I been cut
for having
ted along
that the
jrtes had
/hich was
isideration
and an-
Lajesty* to-
te entirely
]that of ali
tsed. Ve-
its Rgalnst
auueration
of
^kk9. fi 8Bcr. XTiii. hf Hernando Cortes.
2S9
tof hit expences by a legal process. Cortes was declared go*
Irerner-^neral of New Spain, pursnant to the orders of the
pope, and the court approved of the arnmgementa which he
nad made in the countrjr, authorizing him to distribute and apw
pfApX the districts or re^rtimientm in the wav he thoujgiit
proper. Narvaez was referred forredrsMto France, where
Avlla was still a prisoner. The pilots Umhria and Oirdenas
obtained roy^l grants of propertjr in New Spain, to the extent
of a thousand crowns in annual rcnt« And it was ordained
that all the veterans of Cortes should have iminediHte and am-
ple gratifications in lands and Indians, with such precedency
m rank as their valour and services had deserved. This sen-
tence was confinnedb|rthe emperor at Valladolid,who was tb«i
on his road to Flanders ; ana he gave orders likewise for the
banishment of all relapsed converts in New Spain, and that
no Scholars ' should be admitted into that country for a oei^
tain term of years. His majesty, and his brother the king of
Hungary, were graciously pleaded to write letters to Cortes,
and' to us the conquerors, thanking us for the good service
we had performed.
Hiis affair being decided in our favour, the necessatpr do**
cuments Tvere entrusted to two relations of Cortes, Hocterigo
de Paz and Francisco de las Casns, who carried them in the
first place to St Ja^v> in the island of Cuba, where Velas-
ques resided. On the sentence being made known to him,
and proclaimed by sound of trumpet, he fell ill from vexa-
ti<Hi, and died soon atlerwards poor and miserable. Fran-
cisco de Montejo had the government of Yucutan and Co-
nimel from his majesty, with the title of Don. Dieco dc
Ordas was ennobled, getting for his coat of arms the vdcano
of Guaxocingo, and was confirmed in all his possessions in
New Spain. He went back to Spain two years afterwards
to solicit permiKsion to conquer the province of Maranion,
in which enterprize he lost his life and all his property. xOq
the arrival of Las Casas and Dc Paz in Mexico with the ap-
pointment of Cortes to the government, there were great
njoicings everywhere. Las Casas was made a captain, and
St the encomienda of a good district called Anquitlan ; and
3 Paz was appointed major-domo and secretary to Cortes,
getting
1 This probably alludes to lawyers, as on a former occasion, Diaz men*
tioiu a request from the Spatiards that none of that fraternity might be seat
over to New Spain, probably to avoid the introduction of lilwious law suit*,.
I
i
H
If
if
J'..
I':;
n
CoMfiM^ ^Munco 9M,T II. 9P0K n*
S40
fettiqg Ukewiie yduaUe poMMuoas. Cortat Mbinli|r «p-
wardw the captain of the vessel which brought out thU.filea^
sng infori^tion, and provided h«idsom«|y for all who cane
out to New Spain from his native country of Medeilin. All
the proceediMs of our «gents in Spain were regularly ooqp
.mgred to us the oonauerors i but it seemfd to me that thsy
aginited solely for Cortes and themsehfeir 4^ we who hip
rused Cortes to his greatneas, were conti|iwially encountering
dangers and hardships, wit|»9Ut aoy toward. Mav God pro-
tect us, and inspire our great emperor %(> cause his just vfir
tentions towards us to be carried into eiB|ct, To us, the an«
dent, wise, and brave conquerors of Mexico, it araeared
that Cortes ought to have duly consider^ his true viends,
«^ bad supported him from the first turough all his di$-
cidties and oa^gers, and ought to have rewarded ms accord-
ing ^ our respective merits, and fads majf>sties order', by giv-
n^ us good and profitable situations, instead of leaving lu
poor ami miseraule. By his majesties orders, and by his
duty, Cortes was bound to have given to us and 6ur (^lilr
dren all the good offices in the kingdom of New Spain i, bm
Jbe thouffht only of himself and his favouritest> ln our opi-
nion, wno were the conouerors, the whole country ou^t to
have been divided into nve equal partj, allotting one to the
crown ^ another for the holy church, and the remaining thr^e
par;ts to Cortes and the rest of us, who were the true origi>
nal conquerors, giving each a share in perpetuity in propor-
tion to our rank and merita, considering that we had not
only served his nu^ty in gratuity, but without his know-
ledge, and almost against his will. This arrajugement would
have placed ns at our ease f instead of which, many of uf
are wandering about, almost without a miprsel to eat, fuod
God only knows what may become of our chii|clr«ti.
To wfs ve^or Pedro Alonzo Chirinos, Gomtalo Salazar
thf fiuBtor, Rqdrigo Albornoe the contador, and many others
who came now from 3pain^ and to the d^adepts of great
men, whp flattered him and told hi^i fine tales, Cort^ n-
liuea nothing ; but he treated us the true conquerors lijke
vassals, forgetting us e^itirely in the distribution of property,
yet never failiiM; to call upon us when he wanted our assist-
ance, as if "vlre had been fit only for expeditions and battles.
I do not blame him for being generous, as there was enough
for all I' but he ought in the first place to have considerad
those who had served his majesQr in die conquest of tins
, «^?l/,.;^- ;-■-{*;;, '. - ,,- ■ -■:■.■. ■■ '. .■.-.-^,^^ lloble
■.;Mi^f^*-*^^W9f*'*wc^H«w«i^$^aw^l^ •
>OKIf»
)cainfr
I. AU
y coWp
It tjbi^
Im>M
ntfring
odpnn
juBt ip^
thean>
apeased
friends,
tibdi^
accord*
>by giv-
iving \u
I by hit
imr cuilr
UQ» bHi
bur opi-
QU^t to
te to the
ing thrfe
lie origi-
i propor-
i had not
is know-
nt would
ny of uf
eat, fad
flMtf . f. IBbTi »x. ly HiriMHidb CS9r/«s.
S41
noble kifl^ini and t» tirhow blood and valour he ImmM
debted for hit own elevation; Long aftenraida, when Imk
Ponce de Leon cAme out to rapenede Cortes, we the vete>
Mn conquerors represented to our omeral that he ouaht to
fpve u» that property which he had been ordered by hiH
jesty to resign. He expr^«sid his sorrow for havi^ ao loOtf
neglected us, and promised even with an dath, Uiat he woula
provide for us all, if he returned to his government, think-
ing to satisfy us with smooth words and empty promise!*
Section XIX.
Qf an Bxpedition against the Zapoiicai, arid various other
Occurrences,
IimcuiOENCE was brought to Mexicb th^ the Zapotecad
were m rebdlion, on which Rodrigo Rangd, whom I have
•everal times mentioned alr^y, solicited Cortes to be ap*
pointed to the command of an expedition for their reduc-
tion, that he too miffht have an amx>rtuiMty.(^ acquiring
fame, proposing likewise to take Pearo de Ircio along with
him as his lieutoiant and adviser. Cortes knew wol that
Rangel was very unfit for any service of danger, or difficui^*
beinff a miserably diseased olpect, the effect of his sins, aaid
put him off therefore by various excuses } but pa he was a
very slanderous follow, whom he wished to get rid of, he at
length agrceil to his proposal, and at the same time wrote
for ten or twelve veterans, then vesiding in Coatsacuaico, of
whom I was one, desiring us to accompany Hangd on this
expedition. The country of the Ziqpotecas is composed of
high and nigged mountains, always envdt^ed in clouds and
mists, witli such narrow and bad roads as to be ubfit for ca-
valry, so ste^ that they must be climbed up like ladders^
each successive soldier of the file having his head at the
heels of the man immediately before him. The natives of
these mountains are light and active, and have a way ai
whistling and shouting, so as to make the hills resound a*
gain, insomuch that it is haijdiy possible to know on which
side they are coming to attack. Against such enonies in so
strong a country, and with such a leader, it was impossible
for us to effect any thing. We advanced, however, under
heavy rain, to a scattermi village, part of the houses \^^m
-v.v«L.iVi ■ .-;-..:;. -.-,^..- ..- -.^-^^--j^ situated
MH
Conquest of Mexico VAWf ii* book ri.
<m% rocky ritlge, nnd the rest in a ^tXky, and well
Hwu fi>r u« that the Indians made no stand, a» poor Rangd
whined and moaned the whole way, complaining of paint in
his limbs, and the severity of the weatner. It was at last
i^reed, as he grew every day worse and worse, that we couU
be of no use here, and were exposing ourselves needlessly to
danger, to abandon this fruitless expedition, and return to
our nomes. Pedro de Ircio was among the first who advis-
ed this, and soon set the example, by retiring to his own
town of Villa Rica t but Rongel chose rather to go along
with us to Coatzacualco, to our great dissatisfaction, as he
expected benefit from that warm climate to relieve him of
his pains.
We were hardly returned to Coatzacualco, when Rangel took
it into his head to go upon an ex^ieditiun against the Indians
of Cimatan nnd Tatupun, who continued in rebellion, confid-
ing in the impracticability of their country, among large ri-
vers and trembling manhi-s ; being also very formidable
warriors, who used very long bows of great strength. We
were all very averse IVom this, but a» Rangel produced his
commission firom Cortes, we were under the necessity to o-
bey, and accordingly set out on the expedition, with about
100 horse and foot. We soon arrived at a pass among lakes
and marshes, where the Indians had thrown up a strong cir-
cidar entrenchment of large treen and pullisades, having loop-
holes to shoot through, arid where they gave us a very warm
reception with a flight of darts and arrows, by which they
killed seven horses, and wounded Rangel and eight of our
men. We had olten told him what i*tout warriors these In-
dians were, and he now declared that in future the old con-
querors should command him, and not he m, for he would
not have been now in such jet^pardy if he had iistentd to
our advice. When our it ounded men and horses were dres-
sed, he requeKted me to go forward to reconnoitre, on which
I took two comrades, and a fierce dog belonging to Ranged
dteiring the infantry to follow close bJiind, but that Rangel
and the cavalry might keep at a good distance in the rear.
In this order we pursued our march for Cimatan, and s(X>n
fell in with another post, fortified like the former, and as
strongly defended, whence the Indians assailed us with a
dhower of arrows, which killed the dog, and wounded us all
three. On this occasion I received a wound in my leg*
and had seven arrows sticking in my cotton armour. I iin*
^vi^, s > . . ii mediately
ton. ri*
id well
ftint in
•tlMt
ecouU
tmVf ta
turn to
> odvii-
lis own
0 along
1, as he
him of
f el took
ndians
, confid-
arge ri-
'midable
h. We
iiced hit
ty to o-
tn about
)ng lakes
rone cir-
ng loop-
try warm
iich they
It of our
lese In-
old con-
le would
tent'd to
ere dres-
yn which
RangeU
Rang^
the rear,
ind soon
and ai
with a
ed us all
nay leg*
. I iin-
lediately
OMAV. r. stCT. sik. ly Hernando Cortm
M9
kncdiatdy colled to tome of cot Indian auxiHariett who were
a little way behind, to deaire all the in&ntry to come up im-
mediately, but that all the cavalry must remain behind, at
otherwite they would certainly lose their horses. We soon
drove the Indians from their entrenchments i but they todt
refuge amon^ th6 marthcs, where we couk' \^ >t plirsue them
without runnmg the risk of linking at every y.jp.
Having passed the night at an Indinn village, we pro*
ceeded forwards next day, when we were opposed by a bo-
dy of Indians piosted in \ marsh on the '3order of an open
plain. In spite of every thing we C4>uld say, Rangel nliide
a charge upon them with his cavalry, and was tM first to
tumble bead foremost int'> the maish, where the Indians
closed in upon him, in hop^ of tak ..s him t ye for sacrifice^
By great exertions we rescued him from v. ir- hands* half
drowned and badly wounded. The cour<i';, being very po-
pulous, we very soon found a vill^'Te which the na^ 'es had
abandoned, where we went for t' o ^ urpose of reft.jiiment*
and to dress our wounded men : ^tut iiod hardly been there
a quarter of an hour, when the enemy attacked us with such
violence, that we had much ado to repel them, after they had
killed one of our men and two horbes. Poor Rangel com-
5>lained grievously of his wounds and bruises, and was so in-
ested by mosquitoes and other vermin, which abound great-
ly in that country, that he could not rest either dav or night.
He, and some of the soldiers who had bdbnged to Quay
that accompanied him, grew very sick of their expeditiont
m which nothing had Men got except three hard fought
battles, in which eleven horses and two soldiers had been
slam, and many others wounded, on which account they
were very desirous to ; t • home again ; yet Rangel was a-
verse from having it ^^>pear that a retreat was his choice,
and got, therefore, a council of those who were of his own
opinion to propose that measure. At this time, I and about
twenty more had gone out to try if we could moke any pri-
soners, and hud taken five among some gardens and planta-
tions near the village. On my return, Rangel called me a-
side, ahd informed me that his council had determined on a
retreat, and desired me to persuade the rest of the detach-
ment to come into that opinion. *' How, Sir," said I>
*• can you think of a retreat ? What will Cortes and the
world . say of you, when they hear of your retreating in
two successive expeditions, without having done any thuig i
yoa
f
'' i
844 Clottfiiest qf Maeico s va&t ii. bookiu
Yoa caimof sardy retara without disgrace, till you hare
reached the head town of these Indians. I will go :forward
on foot with the infiuitry to reconnoitre : Give my hone to
another soldier, and you may follow in the rear with the ca-
vaby." *• You ^ye good advice, said Ranffd, and we will
inarch on.** This was d<me mvordinghr, to tae great regret
of many of our companions, and we advanced in good oraer
to Cimatan, the principal town of the district, where we
were sainted as unial by a shower of arrows. We entered
the town, however, which was abandoned bv the enemy, yet
took several prisoners, whom I dismissed, with an invitation
to the diiefs to ocnne in and make peace with us ; but Uiey
never returned. Rangel was very angry at me on this ac-
count, and swore that he would make me procure Indians
for him, in place of those whom I had liberated. To pacify
him, I went among the neighbourinff marshes with thirty
aiddiers, where we picked up several straffglers, whom we
brought to him. But he dismissed these likewise, in hopes
to induce the i-est to submit, yet all to no purpose. Thus
ended the two fiunous expeditions iM;ainst the Zapotecans
and Cimatanese, and such was all the &me acquired oy R&n*
gd in the wan of New Spain. Two yean afterwaras, yve
efl^ed the conquest of both these countries, the natives of
which were converted to our holy religion, by the srace of
God, and through the exertions of Father Olmedo, now
ttrowtt weak and infirm, to the ^reat regret of all who knew
film, as he was an excellent minister of the gospeL «
Cortes had now collected 80,000 crowns *> gold, and had
caused a superb golden culverin to be made e» a present for
the emperor, on which the following motto was engraved :
Esta ave naeio sin par : Yo en servir os sin segundo ; .]
Yvos siniqual en el Mundo*,
This sumptuous present was sent ovet to Spain under the
care of Diego de Soto. I am uncertain whether Juan de
Ribera, who had been secretary to Cortes went over at the
same time with Soto ; but I know that he carried over a sum
of money for the generals father, which he appropriated to
his own use i and, unmindful of the many oUigations he had
received^
I Like the aofitary FbcBiy, I, withcut a petr, terve you, who have nf
a^ml ID the world. f H^ ::;;j^
CHAP. V. SECT. XIX. 1^ Stenumdo Cortes,
US
received) he reported much evil of G>rte8, combining with
the biihop of Barffos and others to injure him. I alwayt
dioiight nim a bod man, from what I had observed of him
when ei^aged in gaming, and many othor circumstances y
But, as he was of a fluoit speech, and had been secretairv tor
Cortes, he did him much harm, and would have injured hini
much more, if it had not been for the interest of tlie Duke off
Bgar, who protected Cortes, who was then engaoed in «
treaty of marriage with the dukes niece, Donna Juana dii
Zuniga*. By this interest, and combined with the magnifiw
cent present brought over by Soto, the affiurs of Cortes at-
the court of Spain took a fitvourable tiim. The golden Fha^
nix with its motto, save great offeace to many, who thou^t
it presumptuous in Cortes to insinuate that he had no eOual
in his services : But his friends justly defended him, observma
that no one had so far extended the fame and power of hii
majesty, or had brought so many thousand souls under thd
dominion of the holy catholic church as he had done. Nei*
therdid they forget the merits of us his associates, truly de*»
elariug that we were entitled to honours and emolunbentsi
which we had as justly earned as the original nobles of Ca»>
tille, whose estates and honours were now emoyed far thcit
desomdents. The cuherin went no farther tiuui Seville as
his mnesty was graciously pleased to give it to Don Fraincia*
CO de 106 Cobos, commeiiflator-major of Leon, who melted it
down. Its value was 20,000 ducats. Martin Cortes, onv
generals f^her, brought 9 suit against Ribera for the money
of which he had defrauded him ; and while that was pending,
llibera died suddenly while at dinqer^ and without ooofessifin*
Mav God pardon hijB sins I Jtmm, r,:4-
Cortes continued to rebuild and embdiish the city of Mexi-^
pOt which w«s again as well peopled by natives as ever it had
been before the conquest. All of these were exempted fnml
paying ^ibute tq his inajesty, till their houses were bi^iit, and
9 Jn Clavlfftro. «t the close of Vol. I. this lady it named Damn Jcrons
RMmres ^ Aineuaiio y Zuniga, daucbter of Don Carlos Ramirq de AreU
Ijum, Count of AuguUler^ by Donna Jeroma de Zunigai a dauchter of thi
Count of Benareti eldest ion of Don Alvaro de Zuniga, duke of B^ar. Af-
ter tvo mate desceqti from thia mw^iage, the Marquiaate of the Valley of
Oaxaca« and the great estates of Cortes in New Spain, fidl, by various ccU
latend female descentt»to the Neapolitan family of Fignatelli, ouke of Moq*
^elione and Terranova, marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca, Grandee qf Sp)^fi||
sad pripce of the Roman empire.~£.
'<A
240
Conquest of Mexico . part ii. book ii.
till .the caiuieways, bridges, public edifices, and aiqueducts,
were all restored. In that quarter of the city appropriated
to the Spaniards, churches and hospitals ^ere ^erected under
die •upenntendence of Father Olmedo, as vicar and superior i
who likewise established an hospital for the natives, to whom
he padd particular attention. In compliance with our peti-
tion, fermevly mentioned, the general of the Franciscans sent
over twelve of his order, undo: the yicaraffe of Father Martin
4» Valentia. Among diei.e caiofie Father Torribio de Moto-
linea, which name, signi^ing jwor ^/^r, he acquired from
die Mexicans, because all .that he received in charity he gave
away in the same manner, ffoing always b<irefooted in a tat-
tered habit, preachinff to the natives, and often in wpnt of
food. When' Cortes learnt that these reverend fathers were
lurrived at Villa Rica, he ordered the road to Mexico to be
repaired, and to have houses built at proper intervals for
their accommodation ; commanding the inhabitapts of all the
towns in the way to meet them with the utmost reverence,
rinsing their bells, bearing crucifixes and lighted wax-c^dles,
9na that all thiB: Spaniards should kneel down and kiss their
hands. < On their approach to Mexico, Cortes went out to
aneet th^m, and dismounting from his horse, kneeled down
to kiss the hands of the vicar. The natives were astonished
to see 86 much honour conferred on these reverend fathers
intattired garments and bare feet, and considering them as
gods, they all followed, the example of the general, and have
ever since behaved to them with the utmost reverence.
,:.. About this time, Cortes informed his majesty of his proceed-
ings with regard to the conversion of the natives, and rebuilding
the city of Mexico j and also of the conduct ofDe Oii, whom he
had sent to reduce the province of Higueras, but who had de-
ieried and joined the party of Velasquez, on which account he
had resolved to send a ibrce to redui;c him to obedience. He
bomplained also of the proceedings of Velasquez, to the great
Itajury of his majesties service, and of the partiality which had
been shewn by the bishop of Burgos. At this time likewise,
he remitted !10,000 crowns in sold to the royal treasury, la-
menting th( injurious effects of the proceedings of Velasquez
and tti« bishop, which had prevented him from making a
much largi r contribution. lie con)plained also against the
contador, Rodrigo de Albornos, who had aspersed him fi'om
private pique, because ht had refused to give him in marriage
the daughter of the prince of Tezcuco ; and that he under-
Stood
>K II*
lucts,
riated
under
erior $
whom
r peti-
]s sent
!^artin
Moto-
id from
le gave
a tat-
want of
tn were
D to be
vals for
•f all the
vereuce*
■Codies*
m their
c out to
sd down
Ltonished
I fathers
them as
ind have
e.
proceed-
ibuilding
whom he
0 had de-
icount he
nee. He
the great
hich had
likewise,
sury, la-
/elasq^ez
naktng a
ainst the
him from
marriage
le under-
stood
cktJ^' V. SECT. xtx. igf Henumdt Cortet,
U1
stood Albomos corresponded m cyphers with the bishop ot'
Burg^ Cortes had not yet learnt that the bi&hop was re>
moved from the management of the afairs of the Indies. By
the same ship, Albomos sent home accusations against Cor-
tes } charging him with the levy of exorbitant contributions
in ffoki for his own use { ibrti^ing castles to defend himsdf,
ana marrying his private soldiers to the daughtf^rs of the na-
tive lords: insinuating thut Cortes was endeavouring to set
himself up as av, independent king, and that it was highly
necessary to send out an able officer with a great force to su-
persede him. The bishop of Bui^os laid these letters before
the whole junto of the enemies of Cortes, who immediately
produced this new accusation to the emperor, complaining of
the partial favour which had been s^ewn hif/> on former oc-
casions. Deceived by these misrepresentation*, which were
enforced by Narvaez, his majesty is:»ued an ord«r to the ad-
miral of Hispaniola, to go with six hundred soldiers to arrest
Cortes, and to make him answer with his head if found guil-
ty I as also to punish all of us who had been concerned in at-
tacking Narvaez. As an encouragement, this officer was
promised the admiralty of New Spam, the right to which was
then under litigation. Either from want c? money, or be^
cause he was afraid of committing himself against so able and
successful a commander, the admiral delayed his expedition
so long, th«t the friends and agents of Cortes had time to
make a full explanation of all the circumstances to the Duke
of Bejar, who immediately represe/ited a true statement of
the case to the emperor, and ofiered to pledge his own fifb
in security for tlie loyalty of Cortes. Being on due conside-
ration quite satisfied of the justice of our cause, his majesty
determined to send out a person of high quality and good
character to haid a supreme court of justice in New iSpain.
The person chosen for this purpose was Luis Ponce de Leon,
cousin to Don Martin, Count of Cordova ; whom his majesty
entrusted to inquire into the conduct of Cortes, with full
power to inflict capital punishment if guilty. But it was two
yi(»rs and a half befM-e this gentleman arrived in New Spain.
Mil now go beyond the date of my narrative to inform my
readers of a circumstance which happened during th6 viceroy-
alty of that illustrious nobleman, Don Antonio de Mendoza,
worthy of eternal memory and heavenly glory for his wise
and just government. Albornos wrote ma^lignant and slan-
derous letters against hin, as he had before done of Coltes,
which
S4I
Qmifwt qf Mtitm 9mav ti, book ih
Ifliieh Idtteri w»re aH leii^ bade iironi Spain to Do|i Antioiriik.
Vfhaa he had read all the sroid abuie Which they contai|Md»
Iw lent fpf.Albornoi, to ^Eoro he shewed hi» o^n letters |
Mying mildly, in hif nsual tlow manner* ** When you are
pleased to mdce me the siilject of vour letters to his majes^i
jwitmber always in future to tell tae truth.'^ '^i
fu
Sbctiom XX.
..■.4.
■ '»*
ifarrotiye ^th« ExpedUion of Cortes to Higueras, h
I HATK formerly mentioned the revolt of De Oli. CSortei
^as math distressed on receiving this intelligence, and imme-
diately sent off his relation, Francisco de las Casas, with live
ships and a hundred ivell appointed soldiers, among whom
were some of the vetera|i conquerors (tf Mexico, witn orders
to rieduce De Qli. Lais ptsas soon arrived at the bay of
Triumpho de la Crus, where De OU had estal^shed his
head-quarters I and thouah Las Cases hokrted a signal of
peace, De Oli determinecr<m resistiBnce, and sent a number
of seldierf in two armed vessels to oppose Las Cosos, who
4>rdered out his bdats armed with swivek and musquetry to
•ttadc thiose belonsring to De Oli. In this afBiir Las C>sas
was successful* afhe sunk one of the vessek belmiging to De
OU, killed four <^ his soldiers, and wounded a great number.
On this misfortune, and benuse a considerable' number of his
sokiiers were on a detached seryice in the inland fbuntry, for
the purpose of reducing a party of Spaniards under Oil Gon«
sales de Avila* who was employed in making conquests on the
iriver Fechin, De Oli thoudit it advisable ^ propose 'terms
of peiace to Las Casas, in licqpef that his dJetachmoit might
ireturn to his assistance. Las Cases unfiirtMnat^y' agrekl to
treat, and remained at sea i partly for the purpose of finding
some better place of disembarkation, and (iartiy induced by
letters from the friends of Cortes who wei'e alorig yith" J)e
Oli. That same night a heavy storm arose,' fay which ^e
vessels of Laa Casas were driven on shore and utterly 'lost^
and above thirty of the soldiers perished. All the res^ virerd
made prisonem two days afterwiirds,' having been aJl that
time on shore without food, and almost perished with cold,
as it was the season of almost incesiaot rain. De Oli obliged
* ■■ • ■ ■ ,'a|l
Km
mio.
tenn
I are
jesty,
6MA»; ir»r stcrr. m. i^ ^flmMfMfo 60rf«9.
9i»
y.M
Ck>rte«
iinine«
ith five
whom
\. orders
bay of
bed hi*
ignal of
number
as, who
^etry to
iu CasM
ig to De
nvupfiber.
\et of hi»
Btry, for
JilGon-
ts on the
te ^iervM
It ihijght
•ced to.
fipding
iuced by
[yri'th Pe
hict l^he
'irly^'loBt,
es* vrerd
all that
fith cold,
I obliged
aBivn ptisoneh to twear fiddly to him againM Cortet, and
then MlMwed them all except Laa Gaaas.
'Hm party which he sent against De Avilli returned About
diis time; havitig been sucoessfol in their errand. Avila had
gbne with a party to reduce the country About thfe Otttfif Dtilce,
and had founded a settlement to which he gav^ thc'niune of
Si Qii ale buena i)i$ta t and the troops sent against him,
after killing his nephew and eight of his soldiers, rnqde him-
jself and aU the rest prisoners. De OH was now mtich elated
by his success, in itaving made two captains belonging to
Cortes pn«onei*s, and sent off a full account of his exploits to
his friend Velasquez. He afterwards marched up th6 coun-
try to a place called Naoo in a very populous district, which
k all now bud waste. While here, he sent ofiP various de-
tachments in different directions, among which one was com*
mand^ by Briohes, who had first instigated him to revolt ;
bat Brtones now revolted from him in his turn, and marched
eft* larith all his men for New Spain. He was a seditious
felfow, who hod on some fi)rmer occasion had the lower part
of his ears cut off, which he used to say had been done (Ot
refusing to surrender in some fortress or other. He was
afterwards hanged at Guatimala for mutiny.
. De Oli was personally brave but imprudent, and permitted
Laa CaMs and Avila to be at large, disdaining to be under
any apprehensions from them { but they concert^ a plan with
some of the soldiers for putting him to death. Las Casas
one day asked him, as if half in jest, for liberQr to return to
C!ortes ; but De Oli said he was too happy to have the com-
pany of so brave a man, and could not part tiritfa him.
** l^heni" said Las Casas, " I advise you to take care of me.
for I shall kill you oue of these days". De Oii considered
this as a joke, but measures were actually concerted for the
purpose ; and one night after supper, when the servants and
pages had withdrawn to their own apartment. Las Casas,
Avila, Juan de Mercado, and some other soldiers attached
to Cortes, suddenly drew out their penknives and fbll upon^
Pe OH. Lai Casas seized him by the beard^ and made £
cut at his throat, and the rest gave him several wotinds ; but
being strong and active, he escaped from their hands, calling
loudfy to his pe(»le for assistance, but they were all too busy at
their suppers to nenr him. He then fled and concealed him-
self among somelmshes, calUng out for assistance, and many
of his people turned out for that purpose ; but Las Casas
failed upon .them to rally on the side of the king and his
general
"5
'1
'^- . h
u
^m
'■]
uo
Conqu^ of Mexico 9kBX ». boob. ii.
general Gyrtes» which zfttr wma hesitation they coneentdl
to. De Oil was mmle ^rhnm^ r.>^y Am iwo captains, who
shortly a%rwardi sentc'ncet' kim to l)e l><l»o:ided, which was
carried into execution in Oae tn-wn of Na« o^ He wagi a bravb
max\, but of it<> foresi;(/ii, mvl th^u pah? >lj his lite for fd»
lowiog e\ il counsels. Me had received many &vours fhim
Cortex, having valuabu; estates, and tiie oommiasion of
Maesire $> Cam^^ His lady. Donna Philippa de Aran)a«
was a Portuguese, by viht>ui he had one daughter.' Las
Casas and Avij ; now joined theu- ti^x ps tc^ether, and acted
hi. concert .iA capCaiiM under Corte ^ las Casas colonked
Truzilo in Netv E»ueni>Miura. Avik sent orders to his
lieutenant in Euenn Vista ta remain in <:harge of that esta-
blishment, promiisiug to &end him a reinforcement as.soOB as
possible, for which purpose he meant to go to Mexico.
Some months after the departure of Laa Casas, Cortes be-
came afraid of some disaster, and repented that he had net
gone himself on the expedition, and now resolved to go him-
self, that he might vxamine the state of the country and the
mines it was said ta contain. He left a good garrison in
Mexico, and appointed Alonzo de Estrada and Albornos,
the treasurer and coiUiidor, to carry on the government in
his absence, with strict injunctions to pay every attaiti<m to
the inteirest of his miye»ty, and recommt-nded to Motolinca
and Olmedo to labour incessantly in converting the natives.
On purpose to deprive the Mexicans of chiefs during his
absence, he took along with him Ouatimotzin the late king
of Mexico, the prince of Tacuba, an Indian now named Ve-
lasquez, who had been a captain under Guatimotzin, and
several other caciques of const quence. We had along with us
Fra Juan de las Varillas, and several other good theo^gians to
preach to the Indians, as also the captains Sandoval and
Marin and numy other (^avaliers. On this occasion, Cortes,
was attended by a splendid personal suit i such as a stewanf,
paymaster, keeper of the plate, a major-domo, two stewards
of the household, n butler, confectioner, physician, surgeon
a nnmber of pages, among whom was Francisco de Montejo,
who was afterwards captain in Yulucan, two aimour^bearers,
eight grooms, two falconers, five musicians, a stage-dancer,
ajuggter and puppet-master, a master of the horse, and three
l^amsh muleteers. A great service of gold and silver plat«
accompanied the march, and a large drove of swine for the
use of the table. Three thousand Mexican warriors att^id-
(OKU*
laenUd
^ who
€h was
fcbravte
for fol-
rafrum
lion of
id acted
lionized
I to la»
latesta-
.Kxmaa
had net
go him*-
and the
rrisoik in
kHiornds,
Qinent in
Ktion to
tolinca
i natives*
iring his
late king
med Ve-
I, and
with us
^ians to
»val and
Cortes,
Stewart^
stewards
surgeon
Tontejo,
•bearers,
>-dancer,
md three
Iver plat*
le for the
s attend-
ed
&M9. V* SECT, vc* Ifg Htrnando Cortes,
S51
ed their own chiefi^ and a numerous train of domestic ler*
vants.
, When about to set out, the factor Salazar and veedot
CSiirinos, remonstrated with Cortes on the danger of leaving
the seat of government } but finding him determined, thev
asked permission to accompany him to Coatzacualco, whioi
he agreed to. Cortes wa > received in all the places on hi*^
way with much pomp and many rejoicings ; and above fifty
soldiers and straggling travellers newly arrived from Spain,
joined us on the road. During the march to Coatzacualco,
Cortes divided his troops into two detachments, for the con-
venience of quarters and provisions. While on the march,
a marriage took place at the town of Ojeda near Qrizava,
betwoen our linguist Donna Marina and Juan XaramiUo.
As soon as the advance of Cortes to Guozpaltepec in the dis-
trict of Sandoval was known at Coatzacualco, all the i^uir
niards of that settlement went above thirty leagues to meet
him i in so much respect and awe was he held by us aU. In
proceeding beyond Ouazpaltepcc fortune b(^;an to frown up-
on us, as in i)assing a large river three of our canoes overset, by
which some plate and other valuables were lost, and nothii^
could be recovered as the river swarmed with alligator*. At
Coatzacualco three hundred canoes were prepared &>r crot>
sing the river, fastened two and two togetner to prevent
oversettii^, and we were here received under triumphal arches,
with various festivities, such as mock ^irmishes between
Christians and Moors, fireworks, and the like. Cortes re-
mained six days at Coatzacualco, where the fiicWr and veedor
prevaikd on Cortes to gi\'e them a commisaioa to assume the
govertunent of Mexico in case they shsHim judge that the
pr(<sottt deputies ^iled in their duty. Ilkis measure occasion^
«d nm<<)i trouUe afterwards in Moxico, as I shall e3j;plain heroii
aft^ i but these two associates took their Vaves at this placet
with much pretended tenderness and ai^ion for thegenera],
even afi^t^ng to sob and cry at pa^lii^^.
From CoatzacuaKxs Cortes sent orders to Simon de Cuce-
na, one of his m^>^<^mos, to fVeight two light vessels at Villa
llica with Inscuit made of maize flour, as there was then no
wheat in Mexico, wine, oil, vinegar, pork, iron, and other
necessaries, %nd to proceed with them along the coast tiU he
had farther directions. Cortes now gave orders for all the
settlers of Coalzacualco who were f^t fbv duty» to join the ex-
peditiouy
\lj.-UiLM~
r
■('.
tS9 Ctnquitt tf Mexico MM if* book ii.
pedition. tliis was a severe oisappointment to m%, aa our
colony was composed of most of the respectable hida^^* the
tetferati ctHiquerors, who expected to have been allowed to
enjoy our hud earned houses and lands in peace, instead c^
whith we were olvliged to (imlertake an arduous expedition
Of nve hundred leagues, which took us up above two yeart
and a half of inftnlte ^tigucs. We had nothing for it but
ootllpI|ilh|B6. so that we armed ourselves and mounted our
horses I being in nil above flAO veterans. 130 of whom were
favalry. besides mkt\i solaitrs newhr arrived from Old Spain,
lyns IntlttHftiately dispatched at the head />£ 90 Spaniards
and 9000 MtatitAMt (u rcducn thii rliilrlct of Clmatan, whi«h
was then in rebellion. My orders were, if I found the
natitei sabmissJve, I was merely to quarter tny troops on (ha
tiativeli and do them no farther Injury. But, if refrae<
tory, Uiey were to be summonetl three times in presence of
ft tWtA notary and proper witnesses, after which, if they still
persuted in rebellion, 1 was to make war on them and com-
pel them to submit, llie people received me in a peaceable
manner, fbr which reason I marched on with my detach-
ment to t^oin Cortes at Iquinapa. In conaeauence of the
teterafis bemg withdrawn from Coataacualco, (lieie people re-
yolted again in a few months af^er. After I jeft him, (he
general proceeded with (he (est of his trorps to Toiialai eros-
ling thd! river Aquacualco, and another river seven leagues
from all arm of the sea, by a bridge a quarter of a league in
length.' which was constructed by tne natives under the direc-
tion of two Spanbh settlet^? of C/oatxacuolco. Tbe army then
proceeded to the large river Mazapa, called t^ seamen Rio
de dot doeas, or Two-mouth river, which flows past Chiana^
CtovAnff this by means pf double canoes, they proceeded
ffarODgh several villages to Iquinapa, where my detachment
joined the army. Crossing another Hver and an arm of
e seat on wooden bridges, we came to a large town name4
pilco, whei% the province of Chopto^a begins ; a popn*
[S aistrict^ ftiU ofnfantations of caeoa^ Whic|l we fOimo per^
fbctly peaceable. From thence we marched by Kiipaxuxicii
jlmd ZagUtoh, passing another river, in which the getiefal h>st
iilDtne part of bis battue. We found Zogntan in peiipe, yet
the |n(iabi(an(s fled ooring the night} on which Cortea
prdered parties out into the woc^s to make prisoners.
Hietcn chieh and some others were taken, but they all esoqped
from tts again in the night, and left us without guides. At
ri.^;
OK II*
CHAP. V. SECT. xz« bjf Hernanth Cortes,
9S$
at our
w, the
iredto
«adof
idition
)y«ari
it but
ed our
n were
Spain.
uimrds
» which
nd the
I on th«
refrac-
icnoe of
hey ttill
id com-
eaceabla
detach"
« of the
fonle re-
liAi, (he
[lai BTOI-
leagueft
lague in
le direc-*
■my then
nen Bio
Chiapai
'ocecded
ihment
arm of
naine4
apopn-^
idpcr^
Luxici^
;e, yet
Cortea
Jtisoners.
[l escaped
les. At
thi^
thii pfaioe fifty canoea arriTed at our quarters from Ti^nmco,
loaded with provisions, and some also from Tcapan, a place
in my encomienda.
Fran Zagutan, we continued our marc^; to T«)etitaiu
crossing a large river called Chilapa, where we were detl^neo
four days making barks. I here proposed sendina five of
Qur Indian guides to a town of the same name, wbicli I m-
dorstood was on the banks of this river, in order to desire the
inhabitants to send their canoes to our assistance ; which was
accordingly done, and ttor sent us six large canoes and some
provisions : Yet with all the aid we could procure, it took na
four days to pass this river. From Uicnce we went to Tepe*
iitan, which was depopulated and burnt in consequence of a
civil war. For three davs of our mardi from the river Chi^
lapa, our horses were almost constantly up to their bellies in
|ne marshy grounds, and when we readied a place called
Iitapa, it was found abandoned by the inhabitants ; but se^
veru chiefs and others were brought in, who were treated
kindly, and made the general some trifling presents of gold.
As this place abounded in com and grass, we halted thr^
days to refresh the men and horses, ain^ it was considered by
Cortes as a good situation for a colony, being surrounded by
a number of towns, which might serve as d^iendencies.
Cortes received information from some travelling merchants
at this place concerning the country he had to pass throi^h,
produora to them a map painted on cloth, rq>resenting the
road to Hugf^Actdat which signifies great Acalai there being
another plsice of the same name. According to them, the
way was much intersected by rivers, as, to rea^i a plaoe
named Tlsmaztepec, three days journey from IstEma, there
were three rivers and an arm of the sea to cross, in conse-
quence of this intelligence, the general sent orders to the
ddels to provide canoes and construct bridges at the proper
pUces, but neither of these things were done. Instead of
three days, our march occupied us for a whole week ; but
the natives succeeded in getting quit of us, and we s^ out
with only provisions of roasted maize and roots for three days,
so that we were reduced to great straits, having nothing to eat
but a w^d plant called qwiiquettque^ which inflamed our
mouths. We were obliged to construct bridges of timber, at
which evei^ one bad to labour fit>m the genend downvmid-i ;
which detamed us for three days. When we had crossed the
last inleti we were obliged to open a way through the woods
with
I i
t'l'
£54
Conquest of Mexico part ir. book lU
with infinite labour, and after toilins in this manner for two
dsyt we were almost in despair. The trees were so thicli
that we could not see the sun } and on climbing to the top
of one of the trees, we conid not discover any thing but u
continuation of the same impervious forest. Two of oiii^
tfuides had fled, and the only one who remained was utteriy
i^orant of the country. The resources of Cortes were quite
inexhaustible, as he guided our way by a mariners compass,
assisted by his Indian map, accormnff to which the town of
Hwf^cala of which we were in seardltt lay to the east i but even
he acknowledged that he knew not what might become of us,
if we were one day longer of finding it out.
We who were of the advanced guard fortnnately at this
time fell in with the remains of some trees which hod b^n form*
eriy cut, and a small lane or path, which seemed to lead to-
wards a town or village. The pilot Lopez and I returned to'
the main body with intelligence of this happy discovery,
which revived the spirits of our whole army. *We accord-
ingly made all possime haste in that direction, and soon came
to a river, on the opposite side of which we found a viflage
named Tamaztepec, where, though abandoned by the inha-
bitants, we founa plenty of provisions for ourselves and horses.
Parties were iinmediately sent out in search of the natives,
who soon brought' back many chiefs and priests who were
well treated, and both supplied us plentifully with provisions,
and pointed out our road to Izguantepec, which was three
days journey, or sixteen leagues from the town where we now
were. Diving our journey to this place, our stage-dancer and
three of the new come Spaniards died of fatigue, and many
of the Mexicans hod been left behind to perish. We disco-
vered likewise that some of the Mexican chiefs who accom-
panied us, had seized some of the natives of the places
through which we passed, and had eaten them to appease
their hunger. Cortes very severely reprimanded all who had
been concerned in this barbarous deed, and one of our friars
preached a holy sermon on the occasion ; after which, as an
example to deter our allies from this practice in future, the
general caused one against whom this crime hod been most
clear ! v proved, to be burnt. All had been equally guilty, but one
example was deemed sufficient on the present occasion. Our
poor musicians felt severely the want of the feasts they had
been used to m Spain, and their harmony was now stopt, ex-
cept one fellow ; but the soldiers used to curse him, toying
they
"11^0
OK II*
•
or two
t> thick
the top
gbut a
of Ott#
utterly
re quite
oinpaMi
town of
but even
le of U8y
^ at this
len form-
>leadto-
urned to
liscovery*
e accora-
ooncame
I a viflage
the inha-
nei horses.
le nfttives,
who were
»rovision«»
was three
re we now
ancer and
and many
We disco-
io accom-
the places
to appease
1 vrho had
our friars
lich, as an
[uture, the
|been most
ty, but one
lion. Our
they had
stopt, ex-
m, lsay»ng
' they
OHAP. T. sBCT. XX. hf ttemimdo Cories.
f5»
they wanted maize not music. It may be asked, how we did
not lay our hands on the herd of swine belonging to Cortes
in our present state of starvation ? But these were out of
sight, and the steward alleged they had been devoured by
the alligators on passing one of the rivers : In reality, ihey
were artfully kept four days march l)chind the army. Dnrinc
our route, we used to carve crosses on the bark of trees, with
inscriptions bearing, that Cortes and his army had passed
this woy at such and such a time.
The Indians of Tamaztepec sent a message to IzgnantepeCf
our next station, to inform the inhabitants, and thatthey might
not be alarmed at our approach : They also deputed twenty
of their number to atten<i us to that place as guides. After
our arrival at Izguantepec, Cortes was curious to know the
course of a large river which flowed past that place, and was
informed that it discharged itself into the sea near two towns
named Gu^atasta and Xicolonga ; from which he iudged that
this might be a convenient wny in which to send for infor>
■nation concerning his ships under Cuenga whom he had order*
ed to wait his orders on that part of the coast. He accord-
ly sent off two Spaniards on that errand, to one of whom, Fran-
cisco de Medina, he gave an order to act as joint commander
along with Simon Cuen9a. Medina was a man of dilligence
and abilities, and well acquainted with the country ; but the
commission he carried proved most unfortunate in its conse-
quences. He found the ships waiting at Xicolanga, and on
presenting his authority as joint captain, a di>pute arose be-
tweoi him and Cuenga as to which of them should have the
chief command. Each w^ supported by a party, and had re-
course to arms, in which all the Spaniard!^ were slain except
eight. The neighbouring Indians fell upon the survivors, and
put them all to death ; atter which they plundered the ships
and then destroyed them. It vas tv^o years and a half after
this, before we knew what had ber/n; ie of the ships.
We now learnt that the tonn a? Huy-acala vn& three day*
march distant firom our present quarters, and that the way
lay across some deep rivers and trembling marshes. Twospl-
diers were sent on by Cortes to examine the route, who re-
ported on thdr return that the rivers were passable by means
of timber bridges, but as for the marshes, which were more
material ■ to know, they were beyond the rivers and had not
been examined. Cortes sent me in the next place, ak>ng with
one Gonzalo de Mexia and some Indian guioss, with orders
to
;.
f
'' w
M
:<.J)-
III'
M
tM Omgiuii tfBtg*k9 WAWt it. book ii.
to go fbnmrd to Huy-*c«ki to proeun proTldoM* with whUk
w« wvn to nMMt him on the road. But our goidm dtaertod
u» tbe fint night, on acopont of the two nstioti* being at war,
and we were fofoed to rely entirely on oundvee for the r»»
maittder of the journey. On our arrival at the fint town be-
longing to the diwfoe of HuyHMcala, which has the aupreme
gomwand over twenty other tawwr the inhabitanta aeemcd
veiy jealofw of na at fint, but wei« toon reconciled. Thia
dittru^ is much faitersected by riven, lakes, and manhca, and
lome of the dependent towni are lituated in idianda, the ge-
neral Goromuniqation being by means of canoes. We invited
the chie& to aceompany us bade to Ckirtes } but they decline
ed this, because their nation was at war with the people of Ii-
gnantapec It would iqvpear that at our arrival they had no
idea or the force of our army under Cortes { but, having re-
ceived niore accurate intdijgenoe ooaceniing it next day, they
treated us with much de^vnee^ and promised that they
would provide every acconunodatioa for our army on its ar-
rival While still ipoovening, two other fibaniarda came up
to me with letten firom Curtes, in which he oiderad aae to
meet him within three days with all the provisions I coidd
possibly collect i as the Indians of laffuantepec had all desert-
ed him, and he vas bow on hia marra for liuy-acala entirdy
destitute of necessaries* These Spaniards also informed me,
that four soldien who had been detached fiuther up the rraer
had not returned, and were supposed to have been murdered,
which we learnt afterwards was the case. In pursuing his
march, Cortes had Ueen four days occupied in constructug a
bridge over the great river, durinc which time the army suf-
fered eieetf^ive wnine, at Uiey had come firom their last ^|iuu>
ten witiiout provisiooik owing to the desertion of the natives.
Some of the oldsokUencut downcertain trees resemblingpalms,
by which means they pfocured nuts wluch thsy roa^sd and
eat s but this pro«<ad a miserabfe recourse for so great a nam*
her. On the nidit. that the bridge waa completed^ I arrived
with ISO loads orpiK^visioQS, consial^ng of com, honey ,j fimit,
salt, .aiid fowlrt. It wait tlmn dark, and Cortes had mei^on-
ed, bin expedatioD of m^ arrivair Mhh proviaons, in conse-
queuoeofwhiiQhthe soldierawai^ for meandseixed every
thing J had. Hot leaving any thing for Coirt^a and the other
ofiicersr It w«» dl itt vain Uiit the raMDi?*dMno cried out,
** thia is Cor the acnerd}" forthesoUhen said the gennd
aiMiltfSiO^CilMhftibeen eating their hog% while th^ were
':.^: ;,i- ^ .^. : '- p,- - ■■■- i:-^ .'.■ itarving,
•>^
siur« 1* Mot. so. bjf HmmkOifeim*
W
ltMrviiig» and ntkhur Uirteli nor entrtntiet oouM privaU oq
Ihem to leave bim » lingle load of corn. Q>rt«i lost i|U p««
tiancef and iwure he would punish those who had iciaed the
rvinions and apoken about the hc^ i but he soon saw thi|t
WM better to be quiet. He then blamed me { but | told
him he ought to have plaotd a guard to receive the provisions,
9s hunger knows no l<iw. Seeii^E there w^f no nm^jt
. Cortes, who was aocompnnied by Sandoval, addwsed ine,i|p
follows : ** My deur friend, I am sure you mutf have t^VfUit
thing in reserve for youmelf and your friend 3andov9l|, f)^
take us akmg with you that we inav partakew" San^nvvd; sjso
as.- urtnl me that he had not a single handful of maize* ** .W#ll("
said I, ** gentlemen, come to me when the soldiers Wfe asleqt,
and you shall partake of what I had provided Iqr ipjHslf and
my companicmii/' Tiiey both thanked and embiaeed me, and
«o we escaped famine tor this bout, as I had wiUi m<l twelve
loads of maize, twenty fowk, three jars of honejr, aiul some
fruit and salt. Cortes made inquiry as to how the reyerend
&thers hod fared ; but they were well off, as every soldier
gave them a share of what they had procured. Such are thp
ardships of military expeditions in unexplored countries.
Feared as he was by the soldiers, our general was pillaged
of his provisions, and in danger of stai'ving, and bpth be
and captain Sundovul were indebted to me for their ra-
tions. I
On continuing our march from the river for alxiut fi leaguf?,
we came to the trembling marbhes, where our horses had i^I
been neaily destroyed ; but the distance across did note^i;^
half a bowshot, between the firm ground on either side, ajod
we got them through by main force. When we were fdi sa^
over, and had given thanks to Ood for our safety, Cort^ s^^t
on to Huy-acala for a fresh supply of provisions, and toc^
care not to have these plundered like the former ; and on U^e
^suing day, our whole army arrived early at Huy-acvd9>
j frhere the chiefs had made ample preparation for our recep-
tion. Having used every proper means to conciliate tne
chiefs of this nation, Cortes inquired from them aa to the
country we had still to march through, and whether they hnd
heard of any ships being on the coast, or of any Europeans
beingsettled in the country. He was informed, that at the
distance of eight days journey, there were many' men having
beards like ourselves, who had horses and three ships. They
also gave the general a map of the route, and offered every as-
voi» IV. PART 11. * ^ sistance
■r
\ 1
'W'
■¥-■ .
¥f
■v— - ,/■'"
\,- .".vi>'
i \
u I
1 ):
'hi:
.1 li
^58
Cwiquesi tf Mexico part ii. book i|.
sistandi^'ih^eir pow«lr{ but when asked to clear the road,
they represented that some of their dependent districts had
revolted, and requested our assistance to reiiuce them to obe-
dience. This duty was committed to Diego de JVlazaricgoSy
a relation of the treasurer de Estrada, as a complimc^nt to
him, and Cortes desired me in private to accompany hint as
his counsellor, being experenced in the afiairs of this country.
I do not mention this ciicunisttince, which is known to the
whole army, by way of boast, but us my duty of hii^torian re-
auirts.it of me, and indcfxl his majesty wa^ informed of it, in
lie letters which were written to him by Cortes. About eighty
of us went on this occasion along with Mazariegos , and had
^he good fortune to find the district in the best disposition.
rhe chiefs leturned with us to Cortes, and brought a most
abundant suppiy of provisions along with them. In about four
days, however, all the chiefs deserted us. and we were left
with only three guides to pursue or.r march as well as we
could. After crossing two rivers, wc came to another town
in the district of Hoy-acala, which was ai andoned by the in-
habitants, but in which we took up our quarters.
In thih place, Guatimotzin, the last king of the Mexicans,
closed his unhappy career. It ^tppcared that a pkit had been
concerted by this unlbrtunate monarch with many of the
Mexican nobles who acconpunicd him, to endeavour to cut
off the Spaniards ; after which they proposed to make the
best of their way back to Mexico, where, collecting all the
forces of the natives, they hoped to bo able to overpower the
Spanish garrison. This conspiracy was revealed to Cortes by
Vifb Mexican nobles who had con)roande(.l under Guutimot*
-i^in during the siege, and who had been baptiijed by the names
of Tapia and Velasquez. On receiving this intelligence, Vw-
tes immetliately took the judicial informations of these two
-^and of several others who were concerned in the plot) from
which it wns learnt, that the Mexicans, observing that wfi
inarched in a careless manner, that discontent prevailed qfR
mong our troops, many of whom were sick, that ten of oiil^
Spanish soldiers had died of hunger, and several had returned
towards Mexico, and considering also tlie uncertainty of the
fate of the expedition and the miseries they endured from
scarcity of provisions, they had come to the ref>o]ution ci'
falling upon us at the passage of some river or marsh, being
encouraged by their numbers, which exceeded SiOOO well
armed men, and thinking it preferable to die at once than to
'•«'*>«■*?' ,'- v'^ri. .encounter
•» . ' ■' '■*,,'
^^^
OOK II.
cH A?. ▼. SECT. XX. btf Hernando Cortes,
#«•
le road,
kuhad
to obe-
aricgo8»
ment to
f him as
country,
n to the
>rian re-
oi' it, in
ut eighty
and haci
iposition.
: a most
lx)ut four
were left
'U as we
ler town
\y the in-
iexicans,
had been
y of the
ir to cut
make the
g all the
ower the
ortes by
uutiiiiot-
le names
nee, Vqy-
lese two
ot} from
that wft
availed sfi
en of oUl-
returned
ty of the
ed from
lution cf
h, being
000 well
e than to
ncoantei'
encounter the perpetual miseries they now endured by acoom-*
panying us in this wilderness. Guatimotzin acknowledged
that he had heard of this proposal, which he never approved
of, declaring that he did not believe it would ever have been
attempted, and anxiously denied that the whole of the ' Mexi-
can Ibrce had concurred in the plot. His cousin, the prince
of Tacuba, declared that all which had ever passed on the
subject, between him and Guatimotzin, was, that they had
often expressed their opinion, that it would be better to lose
their lives at mice like brave men, than to suffer in the man-
ner thoy did by hunger and fatigue, and to witness the into-
lerable distresses of their friends and subjects who accompa-
nied them. On these scanty proofs, Cortes sentenced Gua-
timotzin and the prince of Tacuba to be immediately hang-
ed ; and when the preparations were made for the exet^ution,
they were led forth to the place attended by the reverend fa-
thers, who did their utmost to console them in their lust mo-
ments. Before his execution, Guatimotzin addressed Cortes
to the following cfTvct : " Malintzin ! I now see that your
false words and flattering promises have ended in my death,
it had been better to have fallen by my own hands, than to
have trusted myself to your power. You take away my life
unjustly, and may God demand of you my innocent blood."
The prince of Tacuba only maid, that he was happy to die
alone; with his beloved sovereign. Thus did these two great
men end their lives, and, for Indiana, most piously and like
good Christians. I lamented them both sincerely, having
seen them in thr:r greatness. They always treated me kind-
ly on this march, giving me Indians to procure grass for my
horse, and doing me many services. To me and all of us,
their sentence appeared cruel and unjust, aiid their deaths
most undeserved.
* After thi«», we continued our march with much circumspec-
'/Hlon, being apprehensive of a mutiny among the Mexican
troops in revenge for the execution of ♦^heir chiefs ; but these
poor creatures were so exhausted by famine, sickness, and
faticrue, that they did not seem even to have bestowed a
thought on the matter. At night we came to a dederted vil-
lage; but on searching we found eight priests, whom we
brought to Cortes. He desired them to recal the inhabi-
tants, which they readily ^^mised, requesting him not to in*
jure their idols in a temple^close to some builaings in which
Cortes was quartered, which he agreed to, yet expostulated
■^ with
' ■■&
r:v
26»
Conquest of Mexico part ii. book n.
/
with them on the abi-urdity of worshtpping compositions of
clay and wood. They seemed as if it would hsive been easy
to induce them to embrace the doctrines of our holy faith y
and soon brought us twenty loads of fowls and maize. On
being examiuod by Cortes about the bearded men with horses,
they said that theise people dwelt at a place called Nito, at
the distance of seven suns, or days journey from their village,
and offered to guide us to that place. At this time Cortes
was exceedingly sad and ill-humoured, being fretted by the
difficulties and misfortunes of his march, and his conscience
upbraided him for the cruelty he had committed upon the
unfortunate king of Mexico. He was so distracted by these
reflections, that he could not sleep, and used to walk about
at night, as a relief for his anxious thoughts. Going in the
dark to walk in a large apartment which contained some of
the Indian idols, he missed his way and fell from a height of
twelve feet, by which he received a severe contused wound
in his head. He endeavoured to conceal thit> circumstance
from general knowledge, and got his wounds cured as well
as he could, keeping his sufferings to himself.
After leaving this place, we came in two days to a district
inhabited by a nation called the Mazotecas^ where we found a
newly built town, fortified by two circular enclosures of palli-
sades, one of which was like a barbican, having loop-holes to
shoot through, and was strengthened by ditches. AnotheK'
part of the town was inaccessible, being on the summit of a '
perpendicular rock, on the top of which the natives had col-
lected great quantities of stones for their defence: And a
third quarter of the town was defended by an impassable mo-
rass. Yet after all these defensive preparations, we were as- >
tonished to find the town entirely abandoned, though every
house was full of the different kinds of provisions wnich the
. country afforded, besides which it had a magazine stocked
with arms of all sorts. While we were expressing our asto-
nishment at these circumstances, fifteen Indians cume out of
the morass in the most submissive manner, and told us that
they had been forced to the construction of this fortress a&
their last resort, in an unsuccessful war with a neighbouripg '
nation, called the Lazandonrs as far as I can now remember.
They brought back the inhabitants, whoni we treated with
kindness, and from whom we received farther inforniotioa
respecting the Spanish settlement, to which two of the na-
tiveft of this plac<^ unidfirt^fik to shew uo (b^ .wAy> From this
.-i*w . , > =. * - place.
*:■
■tfiyj^-^'
€HA1K T. SECT. XX. ty Hermndo Cortes,
26)
place we entered upon vast open plains, in which not a tree
was to be le. n. and in which innumerable herds of deer were
feeding, which were so tame as almost to cuine up to us.
Our horsemen, therefore, easily took as many a»< they pleased,
and we found that the indiautt never disturbed them, consi-
dering them as a kind of divinities, and had tven been com-
manded by their idols, or priests rather in their name, nei-
ther to kill or frighten these animals. The heat of tiie wea-
ther was now so excessive tliat Paiucios Rubiot, a relation of
Cortes, lot his horse by pursuing the deer. \Ve continued
our march along this open campaign country, passing several
villages where the destructive ravages of war were distinctly
perceivable. On one occasion we met some Indians on their
return from hunting, who had along with them a huge lion *
just killed, and several iguanas ', a species of small serpent
very good to eat. These people shewed us the way to their
town, to which we had to wado up to our middles through a
lake of fresh water by which it was surrounded. This lake
was quite fuU of fish, resembling shads, but enormously large,
with prickles on th. ir backs ; and having procured some nets,
we took above a thousand of them, which gave us a plentiful
supply. On inquiry, five of the natives of this place engaged
to guide us to the settlement of our countrymen ; and they
were glad to get so easily rid of us, as they were af^rehennve
we had come to put them all to death.
Leaving this place, w? proceeded to a town named TatfO'
salf situated on anislaii'a ia a river, the white temples, towers,
and houses, of which place, glistened from a distance. As
the roa^l now became very narrow, we thought proper to
halt here for the night, having in the first place detached
some soldiers to '■hi} river to look out for a passage. They
were so fortunate as to take two canoes, containing ten men
iind two women, who were conveying a cargo of maize and
salt Being brought to Cortes, they inibrmed him that they
belonged
•.c*
1 The true lion, Felis leo, is only found in the old world, chiefly ia Africa
and the south of Persia. The American lion, or ^uma, the Feiis concolor
of naturalists, is considerably less than the true hon, being about the size
of a large wolf, of a lively red colour tinged with black, but without spots.
It climbs trees, whence it drops down by surprise on animals passiiq; benvw ;
and though fierce and cunning, hardly ever Tentures to attack manund. — £.
it The iguaiu, instead of being a urpeut, U a large species of iitard, the
Lacerta iguana oif naturalists. It abounds in all the W|I^ sad nwrshy parts
«F America, and is reckoned excellent eating.— •£■ ' '
262
Conquesi ofM€tneo part ii. book it.
belonged to a town about four leagues farther on. Our ge*
neral detained one of the canoes and some of the people, and
sent two Spaniards along with the rest in the other canoe, to
desire the cacique of that town to send him canoes to enable
us to cross the river. Next morning, we all marched down
to the river, where we found the cacique waiting for us, who
invited the general to his place of residence. Cortes accord*
jngly embarked with an escort of thirtjr crossbows, and wa«
presented on his arrival at the town with a few tovs of gold
very much alloyed, and a small number of mantles. 'Iney
informed him that they knew of (Spaniards being at three
different places, which were Nito, Buena Vista, and Maco,
the last being ten days journey inland from Nito, and where
the greater number of uie iSpaniards resided, Nito being on
the coast. On hearing this, Cortes observed to us that De
Oli had probably divided his forces, as we knew noiliing as
yet respecting Gil Gonealo de Avilu, or Las Casas.
Our whole army now crossed the river, and halted about
two leagues from it. waiting the return of Cortes. At this
place, three Spanish soldiers, two Indians, and a Nogro de-
serted ; preferring to take their chance among the unknown
natives of the country, to a continuance ot the fatigues and
dangers they had experienced. This day likewise, 1 had a
stroke of the sun', which occasioned a burning lever or calen-
ture. At this period whe weather changed, and for three
days and nights it rained iuces^^antly ; yet we had to continue
our march, lest our provisions might fail. After two days
march we came to a ridge of rocky hills, which we named
the Sierra de los Ptdemalesy the stones of which were as
sharp as knives. Several soldiers were sent a league on each
side of this bad pass in search of a better road, but to no
purpose, so that we were forced to proceed. Our horses fell
at every step, and tlie farther we advanced it grew the worse»
insomuch that we lost eight horses, and ail the rest were so
lamed that they couid not keep up with us. Alter getting
over this shocking pass, we a(ivanced towards a town called
Taica^ where we expected to procure provisions in abun-
dance; but to our great mortihcation were unexpectedly
stopped by a prodigious torrent, i^o swdled by the late heavy
rains diat it was quite impassable, and made such a noise in
tumbling over its rocky bed that it might have been heard at
the distance of iwo leagues We had to stop here for three
complete days to comtrupt a bridge between the precipitous
^ "" ' banks
••^^■-•■--m--
cHAi^.v. 8SCT. XX. bjf Hernando Cortm.
26a
banks of this river ) in consequence of which delay the people
of Taica had abandoned thar town, remoyina all their pro-
viaions out of our reach. We were all miserably disappoint-
ed at this event, finding that hunger was to be our portion after
all our fatigues. After sending out his servants in every direc-
tion, Cortes was only able to procure about a bushel oF maize.
He then called together the colonists of Coatzacualco, and
earnestly solicited us to use our utino.st endeavours to procure
supplies. Pedro de Ircio requested to have the command
on this occasion, to which Cortes assented : But as I knew
Ircio to be a better [irater than marcher, I whispered to
Cortes and Sandoval to prevent him from going, as he was a
duck-legged fellow, who could not get through the miry
ground, and would only interrupt us in our aeaVc\i. Cortes
accordingly ordered him to remain, and five of us set out
with two Indian guides across rivers and marshes, and came
at length to some Indian houses where we found provisiont
in abundance. We here made some |)risoncrs, and with their
fruit, fowls, and corn, we celebrated the feast of the Resurrec-
tion to our great contentment. That same night we were
joined by a thousand Mexicans, who had been sent afler us,
whom we loaded with all the corn we could procure, and
twenty fowls for Cortes and Sundoval, after which there still
remained some corn in the town, which we remained to
guard. We advaiiced next day to some other villages, where
we found corn la abundance, and wrote a billet to Cortes
desiring him to send all the Indians he could spare to carry
il to the army, riiirty soldiers and about five hundred In>
dians arrived in a short time, and we amply provided for the
wants of the ^rmy during the five days it remained at Taica.
1 may observe here, that the bridges which we constructed
on this march continued good for many years ; and the Spa^*
niards, when they travelled this way, used to say, '* These are
the bridges of Cortes."
After resting five days at Taica, we continued our march
for two days to a place called Tania, through a country evenr-
where intersected by marshes, rivers, and rivuleM» all the
towns being abandoned and the provisions carried away ; and,
to add to our misfortunes, our guides made their escape dur-
ing the night, being entrusteii, as I suppose, to some of the
newly arrived Spaniards, who used to sleep on their posts.
We were thus left in a difficult country, and did not know
which way to go; besides which heavy rains fell without
§j;t,^.,, •^':-^ :,-,,.. ^^,-'r -•-","-.1 ....:-, .^^.^--^.-.„ - .- ceasing.
/!
If
«M
Conquea cf Mexico part n. Book n.
cea«iti|(. Cotte» Was very much out of humour, and obgerved
among his officers, that he wished some others besides the
Coatmcualco settlers would bestir themselves in search of
guides. . Pedro de Ircio, a man of quality named Marmolejo,
tftad Burgales, who was afterwards regidor ot Mexico, offered
their services, and taking each of them six soldiers, were out
tKree day? in search of Indians, but all returned without suc-
cess, having met with nothing but rivers, marshes, and ob-
structions. Cortes was quite in desptiir, and desired Sando-
val to ask me-as a favour to undertnke the business. Though
iU, I could not refuse when applied to in this manner ; where-
fore, taking twc- hiends ulong with me who could endure fa-
tigue, we set out following the course of a stream, and soon
found a way to some houses, by observing marks of boughs
havinff been cut. Following these marks, we came insight
of a village sUrroimdev! by helds of corn ; but we remained
<iOnceale(l tUl iff', thought the people were asleep, and taking
the inhabitants by suiprise, we secured three men, two very
handsome Indian giris, and an old woman, with a few fowls
imd a small quantify of maize. On bringing our prize to
head-ottarters, Sandoval was quite oveijoytd. ** Now," said
he to redtx) de Ircio in the presence of Cortes, •• was not
CaStiUo in the right, when he refused to take hobbling people
alone with him, who tell old stories of the adventures of the
Conde de Urena and his son Don Pedro Giron ?" All
who were present lauded heartily at this sally, as Ircio used
to pester us with these stories continually, and Sandoval knew
thM Ircio and I were not on friendly terms. Cortes paid me
ihany compliments on this occasion, and thanked me for my
good service. But what is praise more than emptiness, and
What does it profit me that Cortes said he relied on me, next
to God, for procuring guides ? We leiE^rnt from the prison-
ers that it was necessary to descend the river for two days
march, when we would come to a town of two hundred houses,
eadled Oculiztlii which he did accordingly, passing some
lai^ 'landings where the travelling Indian merchants used
io stop on«their journeys. At the close of the second day we
came to Oculiztli, where we got plenty of provisions, and in
one of the temples we found an old red cap and a sandal,
which had been placed there as offerings to the idols. Some
of our soldiets brought two old men and four women to Cor'
tes, who told him that the Spanish settlement was on the sea-
Bide two days journey from Uiis place, with no intervening
'^■'^., .^.-..,7--. towns.
cftAl^. f. 8£CT. %t. bif Hertiando Carles.
UBS
day we
and in
sandal,
Some
J to Cor-
Ithe sea'-
prvening
towns.
towns. Cortes therefore gave orders to Sandoval to set out
immediately with six soldiers for the coast, to ascertain what
number of men De Oli had with him, as he meant to fall
upon him by surprise, being quite ignorant of the revolution
which had happened in this quarter. >
Sandoval set out accordingly with three guides, and on
reaching the sea shore, he soon perceived a canoe { and con-
cealing nimself where he expected it might anchor for the
night, was fortunate enough to get possession of the canoe ;
which belonged to some Indian merchants who were carry-
ing bait to Gotfo dolce. Sandoval embarked in this canoe
with a part of his men, sending the rest along the shore, and
made for the great river. During the voyage, he fell in with
four Spaniards belonging to the settlement, who were search-
ing for fruit near the mouth of the river, being in great dis^-
tress from sickness and the hostilities of the Indians. Two
of these men were up in a tree, when they saw Sandoval to
their great astonishment;, and soon joined him. They in-
formed him of the great distress of the settlement, and of all
the events which had occurred, and how they had hanged
the officer whom Avila had left in the command, and a tuj>
bulent priest, lor opposing their determination >o return to
Cuba, and had elected one Antonio Niotc in his stead.
Sandoval resolved to carry these people to Cortes, whom he
wished to inform as soon as possible of the news, and sent a
«oldier named Alonzo Ortiz, who soon reached us with the
agreeable intelligence, for which Cortes uave him an excel-
lent horse, and all of us gave him something in proportion
to our abilities. Sandoval arrived soon afterwards, andCor^
tes issued immediate orders to march to the coast, which was
about six leagues distant. Cortes pushed forwards with his
attendants, and crossed the river by means of the two ca-
noes, swimming the horses. The Spanish settlement was a-
bout two leagues from the place where Cortes landed, and
the colonists were astonished on seeing the Europeans com-
ing towards them, and still more so when they found it was
the renowned conqueror of Mexico. Cortes received their
congratulations very graciously, and desired them to bring
aU the canoes they could collect, and the boats belonging to
their ships to assist his army in crossing. He likewise or-
dered them to provide bread tor the army ; but of this only
fifty pounds weirfit could be got, as they lived almost entire-
ly on sapctes and other vegetables, and fish. ->.-* o^t^ -•
We
M
Cot^ueit of Mexico
rART II. BOOK II.
Wc bad an arm of the sea to cross, and iiad therefor* to
wtiit for low water, but Cortcb had found the passage so dan-
gerous tliat he sent us word not to follow till iiw^ther orders.
The care of passing this dangerous place was entrusted to
Sandoval, who took as e£^tual measures as possible, but it
took us four days to get over, parti) v/ading and partly
swimming. One soldier and his horse went to the bottom,
and was never seen mpre, and two other horse- were lost.
A person named Saavedra, presuming on hi^ relationship to
Cortes, refused obedience to the orders of Sandoval, and
endeavoured to force his passage, even laying his hand on
his p(>inard, and using disrespectful expressions to iSandoval}
who i:eizcd him instantly and threw him into the water,
where be was nearly drowned. Our sufferings at this time
were excessive, as during all these four days we had literally
nothing to eat, except ny gathering a few nuts and some
wild frui'>, and on getting across our condition was not im-
proved. We found this colony to contain forty men and
six women, all yellow and sickly, and utterly destitute of
proviiiions ; so Uiat we were under the necessity of setting
out immediately in search of food both for ourselves and
them. For this puipose, about eighty of us marched, under
the command of Luis Marin, to a town about eiglit leaguefr
distant, where we found abundance of mai/e and vregetables,
and great quantities of cacao ; and as this place was in the
direct roatl for Naco, to which Cortes intended to |(o, he
immediate^ sent Sandoval and the greatest part of \he
troops to Join us, on receiving the agreeable intelligence of
our good fortune. We sent a plentiful supply of maize to
the miserable colonists who had been so long in a starving
condition, of which they eat to such excess that seven of
them died. About this time likewise a vessel arrived with
seven horses, forty hogs, eight pipes of salted meat, a consi-
derable quantity oi biscuit, and fifteen adventurers from Cu-
ba. Cortes immediately purchased all the provisions, which
lie distributed among the colonists, who eat the salted meat
so voraciously that it occasioned diarrhoeas, I'v which, in a
very few days, fourteen of them were carried off. ,^
As Cortes wished to examine this great river, he caused
one of tlie brigantines belonging to Avila which had been
stranded to be filled out ; and embarking with thirty soldiers
and eight mariners belonging to the vessel lately arrived,
having likewise a boat and four double canoes, he proceed-
ed
(WAP. V. 8BCT. XX. by Hernando Cortes.
867
*<"
he
of »he
;ence of
ed up the river to a spacious lake with good anchorage.
This lake was navigable for six leagues, all the adjacent
country being subject to be inundutod i but on endeavouring
to proceed higher, the current bccume stronger, and be came
to certain shallows, which prevented the vessels froni i pro-
ceeding 'any tifirther. Cortes now landed with his soldiers,
and a(wanced into the country by a narrow road which led
to several villages of the natives. In the first of these he
procured some guides, and in the second he found abun-
dance of corn, and many domesticated birds, among which
were plieasants, pigeons, and partridges, which last are often
domesticated by the Indiana of America. In prosecuting
hiii route, he approached a large town called Cinacan Ten-
cintlet in the midst of line plantations of cacao, where he
heard the sound of music and merry-making, the inhabitants
being engaged in a drunken feast. Cortes waited a favour^
able opportunity, concealed in a wood close by the town,
when suddenly rushing out, he mode prisoners of ten men
and fifteen women. The rest of the inhabitants attacked
him with their darts and arrows, but our people closed with
them and killed eight of their chiefs, on which the rest sub-
mitted, sending four old men, two of whom were priests,
with a trifling present of gold, and to petition for the libera-
tion of the prisoners, which he accordingly engaged to give
up on receiving a good supply of provisions, which tnev
promised to deliver at the ships. A misunderstanding took
place afterwards between Cortes and these Indians, as he
wished to retain three of their women to make bread, and
hostilities were renewed, in which Cortes was himself wound-
ed in the face, twelve of his soldiers wounded, and one of
bis boats destroyed. He then returned after an absence fo
twenty- six days, during which he had suffered excessive tor-
ment from the mosquitoes. He wrote to Sandoval, giving
him an account of all that had occurred in his expedition to
Cinacan, which is seventy leagues from Guutimala, and or-
dered him to proceed to Naco ; as he proposed to remain
himself on purpose to establish a colony at Puerto de Caval-
los ^, for which he desired Sandoval to send back ten of the
Coatzacualco
3 Diaz is very lax in his topographical notices of this famous expedition.
The settlement of St Gil de Buena Vista, where Cortes now was, appears
to have been at the bottom of the gulf of Amatique in the bay of Hondu-
ras, on the east side of the inlet which conununicates with the geifo dolce-
tes
Conqtmt ofMcxm PART it. book If.
!
Coatzacualco veteran/, .v 'hout whose aMistance nothiaff could
be done properly. ' (\dJuig \r\iYi him uH the 8pai:iaras who
remained at St CtII dc Buena Vistn, Cortes embarked in two
ships, and arrived in eight days sail at Puerto de Cavallos,
which had a good harfaour, and seemed every way well cal-
culated for a colony, which he ei^tablibhed there under the
command of Diego de Oodoy, naming the town Natividad.
Expecting by this time that Sandoval might have arrived at
Naco, which is not far distant from Puerto Cavallos, Cortes
sent a letter for him to that place, requiring a reintbrcement
often of the veteran soldiers of Coatsacualoo, as ho intended
to proceed for the bay of Honduras ; but this letter reuched
us in our last-mentioned quarters, as we had not yet reach-
ed Naco. Leaving Cortes lor the present, I shall only say
that he was so tormented (>y the mosquitoes, which prevent-
ed him from procuring rest either by night or day, that he
had almost lo^t his life or his senses.
On receiving this Inst letter from the general, Sandoval
pressed on for Naco, but was obliged to halt at a place called
Cujfocan^ in order tb collect the stragglers who had gone in
auest of provisions. We were also impeded by a river, and
le natives on every side were hostile. Our line of march
Was now extremely long, by the great number of invalids,
especially of the Mexicans, who were unable to iceep up with
the main body ; on which account Sandoval left me at this
place, with the command of eight men at the ferry, to pro-
tect and bring up the stragglers. One night ths natives at-
tacked my post, setting fire to the house m which we were
lodged, and endeavoured to carry away our canoe; but,
with the assistance of some of our Mexicans who had come
up, we bent them off; and, having collected all the invalids
who had loitered behind,, we crossed the river next day, and
set out to rejoin Sandoval. A Genoese, who had been
Kometime ill, sunk at length through weakness, occasioned
by poverty of diet, and died on the road, and I was obliged
to leave his body behind. When I made my report to San-
doval, he was ill pleased at me tor not having brought on the
dead body ; but I told him we had already two invalids on
every
His exploration of tbat inland gulfj was probably in the hope of finding a
navigable passage to he Pacific Ocean. The settlement which Cortes pro-
jected m Puerto Cavallos, nust hste been near diat now called Fort OtoaS.
(MAP* V. $KOTt XX i>jf Uernatido Carta*
je were
; but,
come
(invalids
ly, and
been
iasioned
I obliged
to tSan-
on the
llids on
every
Knding a
trtes pro-
hOttioa.
every hone, and one of my companiona said rather haugUti*
ly, that we had enough of difficulty to bring on ourselves,
without carrying dead men. Sandoval immediately ordered
me and that soldier, whose name was Villanueva, to oo back
and bury the Genoese, which we did accordingly, ana placed
a croM over liis grave. We found a purse in his pocket,
containing now dicef and a memorandum of his family an i>
eifects in ' '^e. God rest his soul i Amen. In ab
two days ^ Naco, passing a town named Quimii-
Ian, and i e mines h.ive been since discovered*
We found a very good town, but it was aban-
doned by its ..... .nts, yet we procured plenty of provi-
.sions and salt, of wliich wc were in very great need. We
took up our quarters in some large quadrangular buildings,
whire De Oh was executed, and establisheif ourselves there
as if we had been to havt' remained permanently. There is
the finest water ut this place that is to be found in all New
Spain ; as likewise a species of tree which is most admirable
for the siesta ; as, however great may be the heat of the sun,
there is always a most delightful and refreshing coolness un-
der its shade, and it seems to give out a delicate kind of*
dew, wliich is good fur the head. Naco is admirably situat-
ed, in a fertile neighbourhood, which produces different
kinds of sapotes in great abundance, and it was then very
populous. Sandoval obtained possession of three chiefs of
the district, whom he treated, kindly, by which means the
people of the district remainetl in peace, but all his endea-
vours to induct the inhabitants to return to the town were
ineffectual. It was now necessai-y to send the reinforcement
of ten Coatzacuaico veterans which Cortes had required.
At that time I was ill, and besides Sandoval wished to re-
tain me along with him : Eight valiant soldiera were sent off,
however, who heartily cursed Cortes and his expedition at
every step of their march ; for which indeed they had good
reason, as they were entirely ignorant of the state oi the
country through which they had to go. Sandoval took the
precaution of sending five principal people of the natives a-
long with them, making known at the same time that he
would punish the country most severely if any injury was
d.)ne them on their journey. They arrived in safety at Na-
tividad, where Cortes then wasj who immediately embarked
for Truxillo, leaving Godoy in the command ot the settle-
ment at Puerto de Cavallos, with forty Spaniards, who were
til
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m
J',
Ccmpua ifMesko -nkBT^n. book if.
all that ranf^ned of tfie Mttlen who had aceonMpa^$ed ile
Avila, and of thoie who had come recently from Coha.
Oodoy maintained himidf for lome time) but bit aicn' were
contimkiillir dropjNnff off by .diseate, and tW Indius began
int last to'despise and n^^ect him, rtSming to Mpply the set-
tlemeiy: with pitM^rion^fO'that in a short time he lost above
half his numbtr by sicknesi Imd famine, and three of his
inelt deaerted to joui Sandoval. By various expeditions and
iodicious measures, Sandoval reduced all the country round
"Naco to peace, and submission, namely the districts of Giri-
mongo, Acalao, Quinistlan, and four others, of which I for*
get the names, and even extended his audiority over the<
natives as far as Puerto Cavallos, wh^e Oodoy command-
ed.
After six days sail, Cortes arrived at the port of TruxiDo,
where he found a colony which had been established by
Francisco de las Casas, amongwhom were many of the mu-
tineers who had served under De Oti, and who had been ba-
nished from Panuco. Conscious of their guilt, all these men
waited on Cortes, and supplicated for pardon, which
l^e granted them, even confirming all who hisd been ap-
pointed to oflBces in the cdony ; knit he placed his relation
Saavedra as commandant of the colony and surrounding
province. Cortes summoned all the chiefis and priests of the
Indians, to whom he made a long harangue, giving them to
understand that he had come among them to induce them
to abandon the ci-ucl and abominable practices of their false
religion, and to embrace the only true faith. He also en-
larged upon the power and dignity of our great emperor, to
whose government he reouired their submission. He vras
followed by the reverend rathers, who exhorted them to be-
come proselytes to the holy catholic religion, the principlies
of which th^ explained. Alter all this, the peopk readily
agreed to omy our general, and to become vassals to Don
(>irlo8 ; and Cortes enjoined them to provide the settlement
with provisions, especially fish, which are caught in great a-
bundance in the sea about the islands of Quanojes * { ho
likewise ordered them to send a tiumber of labourers to dear
the woods in front of the town of Truxilb, so as to open a
view of the sea. Cortes likewise ordercl a number of sows
with
4 These Islands of Guanajes appear to be those called by the Eaglbh
settlers of Honduras, Ratan and fioiueo, off cape Hondurai.'^E.
. BO«»C It*
xn Cubs.
rntum* ▼• iitm sx. ly Hernando Cwies.
m
ittBt began
ily the •et-
lo8t above
iree of h»
Ikjons and
ntry rottiid
JU of Giri-
hich I for-
:y over thei
command-
»f TruxiDo,
ftbUflhed by
of the mu-
adbeen ba-
ll these men
Ion, which
id been ap-
his relation
flurroanding
•riejts of the
itiffthem to
iiduce them
of their false
^e also en-
emperor, to
n. He was
them to be-
_ principles
opK readily
sakto Don
e settlement
in great a-
inajes ♦ j ho
rers to dear
sto open a
iber of sows
vtrith
by the EagUih
I— E.
n.
whih yoaag to be tamed looae iii tli^se iskndt, by which, in
« few yean, they were amply fttocked; The natives cleared
^ woods between Truxilloand the sea in two days, and
built fifteen houses for the colonists, one of which for Corteli
was sufficiently commodious. Cortea bectime feared a!dd re-
nowned ov«r all the- districts, as far as O/ancAo, where rich
mines have been since discovered; the natives giving him
the nune of Captain Hue-hue de Marina^ or the old Ci4}tain
«lf Donna Marina. He reduced the whole country to sub-
mission, exc(»tiDg two or three districts in the mountains,
against whicn he sent a party of soldiers under detain
Saavedra, who brought most of them under subjection, one
tribe only named the Acalteeans holding out.
As a great many of the people along wHh Cortes became
sick through the unhealthiness of the climate, he sent them
by a vessel to Hispaniola or Cuba for the recoveiy of their
healths. By this opportunity, he sent letters to the royal
audience of St Domingo and the reverend brothers of the or-
der of St Jerome, giving an account of all the events that had
recently happened, and in particular of his having left the
government of Mexico in the hands of deputies, while he pro-
ceded to reduce de Oli who had rebelled. He apprised tnem
of his future intentions, and requested a reinforcement of sol-
diers, to enable him to reduce the country where he now was
to sul^ection { and that they mi^t attach the greater credit to
his report of its value, he sent a valuable present of gold, taken
in reiuity from his own side-board, but which he endeavoured
to make them believe was the produce of this new settlement.
He entrusted the management of this business to a rcLition
of his own, named Avalos, whom hf directed to take up in
his way twenty-five soldiers who, he was informed, had been
left in the islcuid of Cozumel to kidnap Indians to be sent for
slaves to the West Indian islands. This vessel was wrecked
about seventy leagues from the Havanna, on which occasion
Avalos and many of the passengers perished. Those who
escaped, among whom was the licentiate Pedro Lopez,
brought the first intelligence to the islands of the eadstence
of Cortes and his army ; as it had been universally bdieved
in Cuba and Hispaniola that we had all perished. As soon
as it was known where Cortes was, two old ships were sent
over to Truxillo with horses and colts, and one pipe of wine;
all the rest of their cargoes consisting of shirts, caps, and
useless trumpery of various kinds. Some of the Indian in-
habitants
-J
I'
^-JSiTs'
87^
><&M9imi ^Miutki^ jmms$ii mmu»
III
lyiMtatabi of tbo Oaan^it'ultDdi* whidi tin tfb»A «ftM
league from TnncUb, ctow at thutfane to Cortes^ eomjpmDp
h^ t)i9l the SMDUurds had been acetutomed to carry atn^
thftoaliVctanduidrmae^g^iaAif or slaved, and that, a ▼eMel'«ra»
now: th«re whkh was supposed to have come for that purposob
Gortes imm«(diiKtdy sent over one of hie vessels to the islands i
but ^e ship, agMnst which the natives cbmphuned made sail
imoiadiately on seeilng her, and escaped. 1^ waa afterwards
known^ that : this v^sel was oomminded hy the faach^or
Msma&Ot who had Seen senton business by the royal ^ndienoe
of St Domiugo to Nombre de Dies.
While Sandoval remained at NacO, the chiefs of two
neighbouring distriotS| named Quecuspan and Tanchiiialcha*
pa, coihplained to him of a party of Spaniards, at tho distance
of a days marjcb from Naco, who robbed their people and
made isJavea of them. Sandoval set oat against these people
immediately with a party of seventy men, and on coming to
the place tnese ^taniaras were exceedingly surprised at see*
ing us and took to their arms ; but we soon sdied their cap^
tson and several otners, and made diem aH prisoners widiout
any blooddied' Sandoval r^rehended them severety for their
misconduct, and ordered ail the Indians whom th^ had
made prisoners to be immediately released. One Pedro de
Oarro was the commander of these men, among whom were
several gentlemen, and in .mraparison of us dirty and worn
down wretches, they were & anted and attended like lords.
They were all marched tc head*quarters as prisoners)
but in a day or two they became quite reconciled to their
lot. The occasion of their coming into the country was as
follows : Pedro Arias de Avila, die governor of Tierra Firma,
had sent a captain named Francisco Hernandez to reduce
the provinces oi Nicaragua and New Leon, and to establish a
colony in that place, which he accomplished. After the a-
trocious murder of Balboa, who had married Donna Isabdla
the daughter of. Aries, Moreno had been sent over by the court
of royaTaudience, and persuaded Hernando, who was now
comfortably setded, to throw off his dependence upon I^ro
Aries, and to establish a distinct government immediately un-
der the rayal authority. Hernandez had done so, and had
sent this party under de Oarro on purpose to open a com-
munication from Nicaragua with the north coast, py which to
receive supplies from old l^sain. When all this was explained
to Sandoval, he sent Captain Luis Marin to communicate the
intelligence
4
«j||fek ?. wtmsm ht Hnmmh CfHa. 974
i$flgBigmm to CiMtM* in otpcctBtioo Hmt he w6iild linnoct
SmsiofH^Kc. Iwwi«Aa]oBgwi0iMiwinofi%
ocetMioa, our whcle force oonsisting df ten men. ©nr joaumev .
WW exceedingljr laborioiu» having to crou many riven whibn
Wire mnch cwdien by the nuni, and we had at times to auke
cm v^ throuffb hostile Indiana armed with Urge heavy hmcet,
by^rhtolitwo m our soldiers were wounded. We had smnirtimea
tiree difficult riven to cross in one day ; and^one river^ named
^MgOM, ten leagues from Triumpho de ln^ Cruz, detained aa
Ibr two days. By the side of that river we found the skeletona
of seven horsei» which had betonged to the trocNM of de OH,
and had died frmn eating poisonous herbs. Sevofalof^
liven and inlets on our journey were much in^ed by dli<M
galota^ •. ■
Passing Triumpho de la Cruz and a place caHed Quenunra^
we arrived one evening near Truxillo» where we saw five hoiMH
men riding along the sea shore, who happened to be our g^
neral and KHir of his iri^ds taking the air. After the m$
yurpriae at this uneiqpccted meeting, Obrtes dismounted andi
onbraoed us all with teara in his ' eyes, quite evoked to see
us. It made me quite melanchdjy to see him, as he was so
worn down by distress and disease, that he amieared mudi re-i
duceJ and extremeiv weak, insomuch that he had even ex*
pected death, and had procured a Fanciscan habit lb be ba«
ried in. ^ He walked along with us into the town of 'KiizilIo»
and invited us all to sup widi him j where we fared so #retob-
edly that I had not even my fill of brnul or bisciiiit After
reading over the letters we liad brought him relative to Hei*
nandez, he mromised to do eveir thms in his powei^ to sup*
Eort him. The two vessels which I formeriv mentioned aa
avinff brought horses firom Hlqpaalola, onfy arrived thrJM
davs before us, and we weire foob enough to run oursdves Hk
debt by purchasing their useless frippery. Hitherto .CoMM
had not reodved any intelligence whatever from Mexicp ainoe
he left it on this disastrous »pedltion ; but^ while we wen
S'ving him an account of the hardships of our late joormgr
omr^aco, a vessel was descried at a aistance makinff for our
port This vessel was from the Havanna, and broi^t leCMB
fiom the licentiate Zuazo, who had been alcalde^mMor of
Mexico* the contents of which overwhdmed CSortes with eodi
sorrow and distress, that he retired to his private t^rtmentp
whence he did not stir out for a whole day, and we could dia>
tinctly hear that he luffined great agitation. After hcarisf
.vat. IV. ! s .
aT4
Cm^pied ^iSuMifi kaet it. book n.
maM|wdit morning, hie c«Ucd ua together «iid oommmijailid
toi w.tbe intdSigenc^ whi^ tkoe litters wnyeygd, whidb wis
t^ ^ fpUoving dbct
' 111 odoMquenoe of the power whi<^ Corties had inoomidaii-
at^ gnntra to Salaiar and Chirinoi, to wyeraada Ertiada
.Ifsuu .OaoEnoB v^ the admmiitration of government in Mexioo»
in caaa of miwonduct in these dqpnues, thqr had fittmad |t
ibraog: patty on thfur retnro to liucioo, among li^ion wtri
Zaaio the a^oaUMniyor, Rodiigo da Faa, a%uaBl<nMgprt
Akmao de T^tiaii Jofse da Ahondo, and many of the Tete*
i;an' adn^netora, andhad attempted to seise the flovernment
bgii ftec«» and muob disturhanoe and lome bloodshed had ok
aiiiNL Sakaar and Chirinot had carried didrpouit, and
had taken the two former deputies and many of their friends
{maonact} and as disoolilants and o|»ositioik stffl |irevailed»
|b^ had oonfiioatod thc^ nroperty of Oi^ ofqponents, whidi
^loy distribixted among weir own partunins^ Hu^ had so*
tteifledad %iIjk> in hia o%!e of akaJde-mMOT} and had imv^
prisohad Radtigo da Pas ('yet Zuano had breaffht about •
tamponry |coondliation* Durinff' these disturnanoes, the
ZMiotecatoa and Mixtecana» and uc inhahifants of a atroi^
Ipocij dbtriot namad Coatlan had lebeUed, raainst whom th«
tneador CIniriaoa had marched with i>n aniMa feroe} but hia
troiopa tlimighl of nothing but card<>p1aying, ao that the eno-
|nr had smrprised tibeir camp and done thm much miachidr.
^ne ftotor Salasar had sent a veteran captain, Andres de
Mbiyaras, to asnst and advise Ourinoa j but Monjasas being
Im invalid Waa unable to exert liinself pnqperly j and to add
iq their ^Rlractions, %n insurrection was every hour expected
in Mcauco. The &ctor Sakzar, constantly remitted gold to
lift mt^caliea titesuver. Son Frandsoo de kw C(4km, tomdie
^JitaABrt mr hlmaelf at court, reporting that wo had ali died
nfc Xitafeima. Thia report originated with Bieao do Ordas,
ivho, OH picpoeo to. cso^pe from thefiwdous troubles in Mexi-
co, had gone with two vessek in search of us to Xicalongo,
inhere Cnata9a and I4*daba had been sbm as fimnerly mtn-
iiancdi on kamiiu; which misfiNrtune he conelqdcd it had
been Cwtes and ms whole parlv, whidi he so reported in
Istteca to Siexico, and had suled himself to Cuba. Salasar
shewed thesm letters to our several rebitiona in Mexiiio, who
ill pufc op mourning, and so univcrsaly were we all b^eved
to m dead, that onr pttqpertiea had been sold by public aoc-
IJOn. The factor Salazar evan aisumad to hiuMetf the oflfee
\ .... . of
i-»
<f
'•^is^tm^-^""
BOOXlb
ouAf, ▼.ttCT. jA, By HerMHdo Cortft,
m
BErtndii
foinncdik
fthevete-
yveniiMnt
yauXt and
leir friends
nraraSbdt
inti,wluch
3hidia-
Indnii*
;ht about a
MUMM, tbe
of a atroi^
t whom tho
Be; but bia
kaktheeaa-
eh nuMhiaf.
, Aadresda
ijosaa being
and to add
ur ocpected
ttodgoldto
icM, tomake
bad aU died
0 4e Ordae,
lesinMcxi-
Xicalongo,
rmerlymoi*
{qdcd it bad
reported k^
«. Sabaar
[exifio, wbo
aUbefievcd
tublie aoc-
tbeoftce
of
of governor and ci^taiii-«chen|l of New . Sjpidn i a mobi**
ment was erected to tfie hononj^of Cortea, and foner^jwr-
viee was performed for him in the great chureh of Miiico.
The idf-iisttmed goTemor even imwd an bidier, that «T the
women idwM hatbands had gone with Cortes, and who iiad
any r^;ard for th^r sooh, shotdd oonitfder themseltrcB aa
widows and should immediatchr marry aoain { and becausa
a woman named Juana de Mantilla, we wife of Aionca
Valietate, refbied to obegrthis order, fdh^ingwewere ndk
people wlio would be so easily destooyed as $daa«r and hid
paRjr, she was ordered to be publicki^ whi(^ped throdgh Itexi-.
00 as a witch. One penon from whomi waexp^fited better
behaviottr, and whose name I will not mentimifb^rwavofflaiti^
ttf^g SiJazar, tolemhty assured luBibe&ii#nahy.wi6iessa,
that one niirbt, as he was passing tha chi6adl of St Jraoy, .
which is bmk on the site of the great tan(>Ie c^B|Mdoo, iNs
saw tlie souls of Cortes, £kpnna liurma, and Sindoval buriH
ing in flames of fire : Another person, also, of 'gdod reputa-
tion, pretended that the quadrangles <^Te66uca.were l^unt*.
ed by evil spirits, which the natives said went d|e soitb of
Donna llforma and Cintes* ' ^
At this time the cantains Las Casas and De Atibiii whb
had beheaded Christovol de Oli, arrived in >texicD,^^ild pub-
Hdcly Mterted the existoice of Cortes, repibbiitpDg |^e ooa*
duct of Salaiar, and declaring if Cortes were Mlifiiallljr dead,
that Ahrarado was the onfy fit person to have beeil i^Msed to
die gOv^mm^t, till his mnesties pfeasiire could brlmown.
Alvariidb was written to on- the subject, and even s#t out fiiv
Mexico} but beooAhw q)prehensive for his life, he retuiHed
to his district FindSng that he could not bring ov«r 14a
Casas, De Avila, and Zuaai) to his party, Sahoar cansed tlfe
two former to l>e arrested and prosecut^ for th^ niwdAr oS
De Oli) and even procured their dondemnatioh i uld it waa
with the utmost dimcult;|^ their execution ebiM be preVOited
by an iqmeal to his majes^' ; but he was obliged t6 content
himself widi sending thm prisoners to Spain. He next sent
off iSle Uoentiatt Zuazo in irons to CuIm, under pretediee of
making him answer for his conduct while acting as a jifdi^in
that i«^d. Salazar coltected all the jrold he could k^ his
hands upon, and seiaed Rodrigo de Paz, alguokil^major of
Mexico, who had been major domo to Cortes, denuinding of
him mi account and surrender of aH the treasure bebnging
to the genand} and as he either could not or would not
discover
m
CoHttue^ <^M«Mco rmr ii. book it.
.;■'*.• ir.
jUiODf# whenrH%Uy he cavNied him to be tofftured hjr burn-
ing his feet and i^, and evisi caused htm to be hanoed that
he i^kht not tarty his complaints to his miyesty. His object
in oomctintf jgold was to- support his oegociations at court;
but in this he was oonnteracted by almost ail the other offloen
of government in^lUnr Spain, who determined to said their
own statements oll^ tiie aAurs of the colony to court by tha^
aame conv^Aiioe «rith his. He nrrested most of the friends
of Cortei^ sm^nd^of whom joined his party as Be gvm^kmi
Indians,^ qtetple they wished to be of the stvoi^Mst sU»»
but Tapift lad Joige Ahrarado took sanctuary with the Fria*.
ctiUllos. lb dcpmt the malcontents of arms, he brought;
the whok^obotents of the arsenal to bis palace^ in front of
yiii<^ he plaht|#afl the artillery for his defence, under Iho
obniaand of .Obtain Luis de Chizman, son-in-law to tho^
chf^ of Medida Sidonia; He formed likewise a body guard
Ibr his own judividual protection, partly composed of soldiers
who had belboged to Cortes, to the command of which he
impointed' <Mfe Aniaga, This letter likewise mentioned thO
m«th of Fadier Bartholomew de Olmedo, who was so mudh
ireyered ;|nr tfte native Mexicans, that they fasted from the
time <^ bb deptll'lUI after his buriaL Znazo^ in the condu-
liton of t||p kCter, expressed his apprehensions that the 'colony
of Mesttco. wonid be utterly ruined by these confusions. A-
Inw^With thtt long and melancholy letter from Zuazo, Cortes
rec^hhed letters from his father, informing him of the death
of the bishop of Burgos, and of the intrigues of Albomos at
iDOurt, already mentioned on a former occasion, and the in-
tirfbrencc of the Duke of Bejar in his behalf. He also tokl
hhA that Narvaez had becm appointed to the government of
tlie country on the river Palmas, ahd one Kuno de Ousmaa
4b tiNe pldvince oi Panuco.
'^^^/^nhe inteUiffenoe from Zuazo made us all very melancholy*
Mi^U^ is difficnlt to say which of the two we cursed moat
heartily hi isecret for our misfortunes, Cortes or Sahoar, for
we jnvie thein ten thousant^ maledictions, and our hearts annk
winm us to think of our miserable plight after a& our fatigtaM
snd danger^ Corta retired to his chamber, and did not
appear again tiU.the ev^fiing, when we unanimouUy entreat*
ed him to hasten to Mexico, that he miffht recover the go-
TeiNiinent from the usurper. He repliea^kihdfyi " My dear
friends, this viUanous ftctor is very po^ii^erfnl^ If I go alon|r
wl}n you to Mexico, he may >raylay us by the road and mur-
der
••■' , »
^-
r bum-
sdthat
» object
court (
officsn''
id their
i by thtf
I friends
«liAP. T. sicT. tx. Igf Hfrmmdo^C^fUt,
,00
istiidr«
leFrMi-
brougkk
fHoAti
ider lk»
w toiht
)y fliuurd
f soldiers
which hc^
ioned thi^
tomutiK
from the
le condu-
he'oolony
IOM< A-
o, Cortes
the death
bomos ait
id the in-
ako told
•nment of
lOusmttk
^cho]y»
rsedmcMt
tazar, for
isrusuiik
irivtigtfts
d did not
^itreaf-
die go-
My dear
id mur-
der
4eR oa aH. Idllk U better for me to go prifitcly tottlkieo
with only three or four of yon, tiMt I may come upon him at
«nawares, and that all the rest ofyou r^dn Sandof nl ipid ^
akmffwilh him to Mexico." Wbeb I saw that CbHii was
resoM on going privately to Mexico, I anxionsly ra^iested
to attend him, as I had hitherto acconmMmied him in aU hit
difficulties and dangers. He compKmented ine on my fid^ ,
St but insisted on my continuing with Sandoval. ,. Several of
e colonists o^ Truxitfo btfffan to grow mut^noQi, becauif
Cortes had juiegUicted pronKraoff them to offi<^{ but he pa-
cified them by promises of providing for them when heshbold
bo renltioecl in his government ofMexicb. Previoitts to his
intended departure, he Wrote to Diego de Gidoy, toquit
Puerto CavaHos with hia .settlers, where tiley vMira nnaUeji^
remain on account «f mosquitos and other vermin, cNPclarNiC.
them to relieve us in the good settkment of Naco. Ha Imp
ordered that we should take the province of Nicaragua in
our way to Mexico, as it was a country in his winion worth
taking care of. We took our leave of Girtes, wh6 embarked
on his intended voyage, and we set out cheerfuUy for Nabo
to join Sandoval, as Mexico was now the olgect of our march.
Im route to Naco was as usual attended with much diffi-
culty and distress, yet we got safe there, and found that
Captam De Oarro had set off for Nicaragua, to infonn
his commander Hernandez that Cortes was setting out for
Mexico, and had promised to give him aU the assistance in
his power.
Two confidential friends of Pedro A uv had come to the
knowledge of the private correspondence be .ween Hei^andez
and Cortes, and suspected that Hernandea meant to detach
himself from the command of Aries, and to surrender his
province to Cortes. The names of these men were Oarmito
and Zamorrano, the former of whom was urged by an an*
oient enmity to Cortes, on account of a rivswhip between
them in Hii^niola when both young moi^ about a hdy,
which- ended in a dud. These persons communicated intel-
ligence of all they knew to Aries, who immediately hastened
to Nicara^u^, to seiae all the parties concerned. Uarm took
the alarm in time, and made his csci^ to us ; but Hernan-
dez, relying on his former intimacy with Aries, expected that
he woufd not proceed to extremities against Um, and waited
his arrival. He was miserably disi^pointed in these hopes,
as
.^^
m
Cmiqueit i^ Mexico wakt it. bo<» ii.
tfclMltilter • mrnmaiy prooea^ ord«red||M ^ ancvUdl
«s « traitor to hi* iiqptrior oAoer.
Oh l^s flnt mtattpt t6 uul from TruxiUo to Vera Cnif,
CortMiww p«t back bgr oontnry winds, and » •mood time
kj an Moidant lM|^(»eiiing to bit shm, DI^Mrited bgr aialb-
floa, the aocidenta/ii^ich had delajed hit voyage pwved o»
hia apititMt ho bccaiM. apprehcnihreof Uiepowerof ealanr
hmD(f loo A«at feriifaiiv and 4ii» Ipfty mind sunk under ntr
ftrslitiotti Awra. Oi hia seoond mtniii to TjroxiUot he or^
dered the eeMnration of a ademn maif, and pc^cd fervendv
to be enVghlened by the Holy Spirh aato hiafntare prooeed<>
a^gh^' Ota this occasiMi it aiipeara that he became inclined to
Miilin k IVttdlk) to cdk^ni^e that part <rf the Goontry I and
in three several expreMes which he Mot in quick succession (•
lieatt ns to that jplafie* he attributed his dctmnination on
Wit attb|ect to the mipiration of his guardian apgri. Ota te-
ceiwng these messages, we cursed Cortes and his Mdfortime,
and dedaied to Sandoval that he must remain by himsdf, if
he chose that measure, as we were resolved on returning to
MeKJco^ Sandovltl waa of the same c^ion with ua, and
we sent a lietter to Cortes to that cfiaet si^edby att c^ us i
to which we had an answer in a few da^s» making cneat oftrs
to audi of us as woidd ronain, and sayi^, if werdused, that
Aero still were good soldiers to be had m Castile and elsei>
frhera. ' Ota reeeivina Uiis letter we were more det^mined
than wver to proceeu ; but Sandoval persuaded us to wait
a few days till ne could see and neak with Cortes {to whom
we wrote in Imply, tint if he couM find soldiers in Castile,
10 coukL we mod govemon mid generals in. Mexico, who
fpQOId give us plantatiMis for our services, and that we had
alveaify suffered sufficient misfortunes Inr fdlowing him.,
^ilh this reply Sandoval set <^, attended Gy asoklier named
iSausedo atad a farrier, swearii^ by his beard Uiat he would
votretorta till he had seen Cortes onbarked for Mexico* On
|bi» oc ^asion Sandoval epi^ied to me for my horse, an. Gfct^,
M animal for speed, exercise, and travel, whi^ cost me ux'
huodved crowns, my former horse havinff been killeq ui ae-]
tion ^ a place called Zubico. SbndovM gave me ^e of his^
19 exebfcngst which was killed under roe in less than. two.
PMAths I after which I was reduced to a vicimis c^t whid^ I
boqght ,{ron) the two vesseb at Truxillo* On partingfircni
lis, Sandoval desucd us to wait bis return at a lai^ Indian
town called Acalteca.
"When
CHAK ▼. iiCT. Kt. iy Btrmtkb CkfMr.
m
I. WImi Suidoval eaAm 16 ThMtlbk CMfk MMMI lu'ni
yuj jovfuUy i bot Mdter hk |iri iiiig faiitiitbl* A(iirblM> N|u
tifc oraM pitBTia im him to pMtMl iM Iftxkow IttyiM^)-
fld Ota him, theiffor*, tb tend MMtln idi OnuMM, Wimfi^
tialierrant, with a eotaimiMicte ^ Mib (Itt Ah^HMld iM
FkmndKo de h* Cmm» in cme the* offiecH wev» 111 li«AilM^
to Miume the govwniikeiit till h* dioiiki Hftiiriii df^ hi life
«v«M of their sfaMnce, to AOthoriae tb« trtidutit, BitM^
fltU the oontidor, Albomos, to twmt the poWar|M«MtdlMf
the fbnam deJNitiitioD, rerokinff that which ho hM ib iM>
tertentlr givta to the factor Sdaxar and the tMdiMr C^hiir^
lioi, which they hod so grossly abiiwMk Cortee tigtiid tfo
thit) end having given Onmtei hii iMtrtiotiiMto Md . ctttainli*
done, directed hio^ to land in a bat b4tw«en Vdtn Cm iklja
Ruinoo, luflering no j^non bot hmttelf to do on ihore^ mti
which the VMielwae immediately to proceed to BMilbOy mt
his arrival mi|dit be kept As seoret m pbsiibk Olttiam #tti
likewise fiurnished with letter! fioniCoriei to ill hii iUttlds
in New fibam, and to the treasnrer AiMl contidork allhMj|h
he knew they were not of that deecHpttonr dielfriU| thMh ill
|o use thenr tttmost diligence in dimhdng the pthMttt tyHUl^
nical nsurpers. Hatmg fimmrabto wi^eir, Oviiitis Mk
arrived at his dcitfaiation } and diiguiking hiAiedf m k laboilis
cr, set forward on his journey^ ihrayi avoidhigthe a|Miii»d<»
and lodging only among the natives. When qiMlubiMBd by
any onoi he ceded himself Joan de FlechiUa; and indeed he
was so altered duritog his absence of twn yearti and diTde
months, that Ins most intimate adqoaintahces could not hit e
lecbg^iised him* Being a very active numi h^ arrived itt foib
days in Mesqco, which he entered in the daH^ and proe^ed-
<ed imrnvduiidy to the convent of the FrindscattB, wht>t0 ho
ibund the Alvarados and seviral othei' fHendi of Oonmi who
were there ocmcealedf On plaining hi» emmd and pt^
ducing the letters of Gortes eviiy one was #«ic«edln^ t«^
loioed, and eVen the revorend Hthers datioid j^ glilflt^
The gates of the monistery were immedioiely locked^ to phi-
chide alinotico being oimveyed fo tl^e ikdverse pariy; iMd
abont midnight, die treasurer jtmd eontadOr» loid many tif thb
fiends of Cortes were brought secretly to the conv^^ ith^te
the intelligence was coihinunicated to them. In a #rara dm-
sultation, it was resolved to sdze the fiustor Scmiar n^t
niomhiB, thecontodor Chirinoe bemg stUl teeiipiiNt i^ the
Th«
%;
m-
Cmfmit ^MMto mbt ii. book ii.
I
i
f TWll«lV(l»iikbtiraftwq>kyadinpio«idiaganMn^
oolUnling til dMr mt9d»f and at day-mrwk next morning
the wM» putj IBMiImH Iv the palace which Sahoar inhab^
J|a4fl>fldingAUtaatlMgr«ent along, *< Long live the king,
mA Iha MViiiior Hemando Cortei.'* When this was henni
,hgr tfit cmaea»» they all took up man and under an Men
■tfpt <h<ir aetitlaBmr watxeaairad by theooirernment, many
.<|fthaa| joined Entorada on tKemarcii. Tne contador Albor-
gM)f played • donblagama <Mt the occaikm, as he lent intclii-
4|ance.tp put Sabtar on hit guard, for whidi Estrada re-
.TOoached hin afterwardi with much severity. Oh approael^
Ing^thejialaee, the friends of Cortes found Sakaar already '
.iVW'prifMHrod fbr resistance, in consequence of theinfonn^*
4kNi . he had received » the artillery under Guzman being
4fnwn o<|t ready for action in front of the palace, and a stron|(
giirrisfp inside for its defence. But the adherents of Cortes
pushed oot • forcing their way by the difierent doors, and o-
.tharprby the teoraces,or wherever they could get access, oon-
tinw^ly shouting, for the king and Cortes* The adherents
}9f JWlpar were diMnayed ) the artillery-men abandoned the
Enpi and the other sokliers run away^and hid themselves,
ving thn po^HT fiuctor with only Pedro Gonsales Sobiote
.and four servants. Salasar htaiag thus abandoned, became
de«)erate, and oadeavoiured to fire oiF one of the guns, in
which attempt he was made prisoner, and confined in a
' wooden cage. Circular notice of this revolution was imme-
diately conveyed to all the provinces of New Spain t and the
veedor Chirinos, leaving the command of his troops with
Monjaraz, took refiwe in the Franciscan monastery at Tee-
.cuco) but was shortfy afterwards made prisoner ara secured
• i^ another cage. Immediate inteUioence of this revolution
,was transmitted to Pedro de Alvarado, with directions to go
inujnediately to Truxillo to wait upon Cortes. The next
thing done by the new deputies was to wait upon Juanna de
Mansilla, who had been whipped as a witch, who was pkced
09 horseback behind the treasurer Estrada, in whidi situa-
tion she was escorted in grand procession through aU the
streets of Mciuco, like a Roman matron, and was ever after-
wards stiled DoHtut Jitatuutf in honour of her constancy, ibr
refusing to marry again while she believed her husband was
BtUlttvuig.
As the situatioi of Mexico evident^ required the presence
of Cortes, Fra Diego de Altamirano was sent by his firiends
to
,s«»
our, V* nor. xx. ijf Ukhtrnkh Cbfii
tH
to rmreitnt to him the nteemkly of teltlMr oat immediately
for the capitat. This reverand ftther had tweii M the armr
before he entered the church, and wtui a man of ooniidienil^
abiUtiet, and experienced in butinew. On hie affiival at
rnixiUo, ancT fivng Cortci an aceoant of the reeent eVtets
in Modco, the general gave thanks to Cbd fiur the rettora-
tiott of peaee i but declared hit intention of going to Mexico
by iand, being afraid of enconntering the acrrerse cnrrentu,
and because of the bod itate of his hMlth. Tlie pilotk, how-
ever, represented that the season wae quite favourable ibr the
Tojragc, it being then the month of April, and prevailed on
hun to give up nis first resolution. But he would on no ao»
count leave Truxillo till the return of Sandoval, who had
been detached with seventy soldiers a^iust a Captain Roxaa*
who served under Pedro Arias de Avila, adninst whok,! com-
phuntt had been made by the inhabitants of Olancho, a dii-
triot idwut fiftv-five leagues from Truxillo. When the par-
ties first met they were on the brink of proceeding to hostili-
ties f but they were reconciled and parted amicaoly, Roxaa
and hia men agreeing to evacuate the country. Sandoval
was recalled in consequence of the arrival of Altamirano, and
Cortes took measures to leave the country in good order, of
which Saavedra was left lieutenant-governor. Ctt)tain Luis
Marin was directed to march our whole party to Mexico by
way of Ouatimala, and Captain Oodoy was ordered to take
the omnmand at Naco. AU thin«i being now setded for the
departure of Cortes, he confessea to Fra Juan and received
the Sacrament, previous to his nnbarkation, os he was so ex-
«eedin|^y ill that be thought himself on the point of death/
Hie wmd was favourable, and he soon anivedat the Havanna,
where he was honourably received Imt hi* former firiends aiid
acquaintances, and where he had the pleasure, by a vessel
just arrived from Vera Cms, to receive intelligence that New
Spain was entirely restored to peace { as all the refiractory
Indians, on hearing that Corles and we their former conque-
rors were alive and returning, had come in and mado their
submissions.
The conduct of Salazar and Chirinos during their usurped
anthori^ had ^;ained them many adheroits ; as, by means of
^eir confiscations and the distribution of property among
their greedy supporters, manywere interested m the main-
toiance of their authority. These were mosdy of the lower
Arder, and persona of a seditwus di^KMition j though some
men
w.
■ ,1
}
999
Congitesi iffMixieo taut it, book lit
ipcn of quality, ctt)ecially influenced by the 'contador Albor-
iios, who dreadedf the arriviil .of Cortes, hnd formed a plot
to IdU the treasurer t^trada, and to reinstate Salasarnnd
Chirinoi in the government. For the purpose of releasing
them from prison, they employed one Ousnan, a wliite'smith,
a fellow ot low eharttctor who aifectcd to be a wit, to make
keys for opeiiing their cages, givins him a piece of gold of
the form which they required, and chjoinina the strictest
fiecrecy. He undertook all that they aucetl nmh the utmost
apparent seal, pretending to oe very anxious for the libera-
tion of the prisoners i and bv his afiected humour and seal
for tlie cause, contrived to become acquainted with theilr
whole plan of procedure : But when the k^s were finished
and the plot ripe fur execution, he communicated intelligence
of the whole affiur to Estrada { whc instantly assembled the
friends of Cortee, and went to the place of meeting* where he
found twenty of the conspirators already armed and waiting
for the signal. These were seized, but many others made
their escape. Among the prisoners there were suverol very
notorious dioraoters, one of whom had lately committed vio*
lence on a Spanish woman. I'hey were iminediatelv brought
to trial before Ortega, the alcalde-major of Mexico ; and,
Ibcing convicted, three of them were hanged, and several (rf*
^hc rest whipped.
J must here digress, to mention an affair not exactly ae-
tordant in point of time with my narrative, but relevant in
regard to its subject. By the same vessel in which Salazar
had transmitted letters to his m ijesty tending to criminate
Cortes, otiier letters were conveyed and so artfully concealed
that he hud no suspicion of their existence, in which a full
tnd true account of oU his oppresions and unlawful proceed-
ings was sent to his majesty. All these facts had also been
reported by the royal court of audience at St Domingo ; b^
vhich the reported death of Cortes was contradicted :> and his
inqjcsty was truly informed in what manner the general was
employed for his service. In consequence of these represen-
tations, the emperor is said to have expressed his hiflh indig-
nation at the unworthy treatment which Cortes had experi-
enced, and his determination to support him in the govern-
ment of Kcw Spain.
f
Section
CHAT. v» ifiCT. XXI. tjf Htnando CorUf.
28S
Sbotiom XXI.
Sthuen of Cortet to H^eaicOf and orcurrenees there preioi^t to
hit departure for Europe ; together with an acfount oj' tht
return of the Author to MeMtco,
CoETis remained five dnyii at tlie Havanna for refresh-
ment, after wliicli he reimbarked, and in twelve days arrived
at the port of Medelin, oppooite the Ida de lo$ Sacrfficioi,
where he disembarked with twenty sokliers ; and while pro-
ceeding to the town of San Juan de Ulua, about half a league
from Medelini he had the ffood fortune to fall in with a string
of horses and riules which had been employed in conveying
travellers to the coast, which he immediately engaged to
carry him and his suit to Vera Cruz '. He gave strfct orders
to all who accompanied him to give no hint to any penon of
his name and quality i and on nis arrival at the town before
day>break, he wait directly to the church, the doors of which
were just opened. The sacristan was alarmed at seeing so
gi'eat a number of strangers going into the church, and im-
mediately ran into the streets to call the civil power to his aS-
ttistance. The alcaldes, with the alguasils, and some of the
inhabitants repaired immediately to the church with their
arms } and Cortes was so squalid from long illness, that no
one knew him till he began to speak. Tlie moment he was
known, they all fell on their knees and kissed his hands, wel-
coming him back to New Spain { and his old fellow-soldiers
escorted him after mass to the quarters of Pedro Moreno^
where he remained eight days, during which he was feasted
by the inhabitants. Intelligence was immediately conveyed
of thejoyful news to Mexico and all the surrounding country,
and Cortes wrote to all his friends giving them notice of hia
arrival. The neighbouring Indians flocked to w»it upon him
with presents aiiu congratulations ; and when he set out on
hit
■J.l The harbour of Medelin ti fifteen or twenty miles south from Vera Cruz ;
hut I iiiinect the place named St Juan de Ulua in the text i* the modern
town of Vera Cruzi the harbour of which is protected by the ishnd and
cutle of St Juan de Ulua. The ancient town of Villa Rica de la Vera
Cn», now called Antigua, is about twenty^five miles north from moden\
Vera Cruz.— E.
i }
^^
i I
^
'^...
4^
28'4
Conquest of Meitieo paxt ii. book n;
his journey to Mexico, every preparation was made for his
accMnmodation and honourable entertainment. The inha-
bitants of Mexico, and all the places round the lake, and
those bf Tlascala and alt the other Indian towns, celebrated
hu return with festivals. On his arrival at Tescuco, the con>
tador ctntte to wait upon him, and on entering the capital,
be was received in great ftate by all the civil and military
oflficers, and all the inhabitants. The natives in their gayest
-attire, and armied as warriors, filled the lake in their canoes ;
dancing and festivity prevailed in every comer of the city
during the whole day { and at nisht every house was ilhimiw>
«ted. Immediately on his arrival, he went to the monastery
of St Francis, to sive thanks to God for his preservation and
«afd return ; and nom thence went to his magnificent palace,
where he was esteemed, served, and feared like a sovereign
prince, all the provinces sending messages of congratulation
on bis happy return, with considerable presents. This re*
turn of Cortes to Mexico was in June *, and he immediatehr
ordered the arrest of all whj had been most eminent for sedi-
ticm during his' labsence, causing a judicial inquiry to be
made into the conduct of the two principal cnlprits, Salazar
and Chirinos, whom he intended to have lnx)ugnt immediate-
ly to justice for their crimes ; and, if he had done so, no one
would have found fault, but in this instance he certainly acted
with too much leni^, or rather want of firmness. I remem-
' 'ber to have heard from some of the members of the royal
council of the Indies in 1540, that the capital punishment of
these men would have been approved by his majesty. One
Ocampu, who had been guilty of defamatory libels, and an
old scrivener named Ocana, who used to be called the soul of
Chirinos, was arresttd on this occaition.
Shortly after the arrival of Cortes in Mexico, the licen-
tiate Luis Ponce de Leon arrived unexpectedly at Medelin,
and Cortes was surprised with this intelligence while perform-
ing his devotions in the church of St Prancis. He prayed
earnestly for direction from God, that he might so concluct
himself or this critical emergency, as seemetl best fitting to
his holy will, and the good service of his sovereign ; and im-
mediately
a Diaz is frequently inattentive to dates, and does not on this occasion
loforro us of the year : By reference to Robertsons History of America, II.
S66, ismo. ed> Lond. 1800, itcertauily appears to have been in the year
r*'
V-
■%'r
•##
m
CHAK V. 8BGT. XXI. hf Henumdo X^es.
S85.
nediately sent a confidential penon to bring him infonna-
tion of the particskur object and tendency of the comij^ of
De Leon. In two days after, he received a c(^y oi the
royal orders to receive the licentiate as resident judge of
li/Coxico : In consequence of which, he dispatched a penon
with a complimentary message, desiring to know which of
the two roads to the city De Leon intended to take, that he
might give orders for everv proper accommodation to be
pr^arra suitable to His rank. De Leon sent back an an«
swer, thanking him for his polite attention, but that he pro-
posed to repose for some time where he then was, to recover
from the iatigues of his voyage. This interval was busily
employed by the enemies of Cortes, in misrepresenting all the
transactions in which Cortes had been concerned, 'iliey as-
serted that Cortes intended to put the factor and veedor to
death before the arrival of De Leon at Mexico, and even
warned him to take great care of his own personal safety^
alleging that the civility of Cortes in desiring to know the
toad he meant to take, were to enable him to prepare for
his assassination, under pretence of doing him honour. The
persons with whom the licentiate principally consulted were,
Proano, the alcalde-major, and his brother, who was alcalde
of the citadel, named Salazar de la Pedrada, who soon after-
wards died of a pleurisy ; Marcos de Aguilar, a licentiate or
bachelor; a soldier named Bocanegra de Cordova, and certain
firiars of the Dominican order, of whom Fra Thomas Obrtiz was
provincial. This man had been a prior somewhere, and waf
said to be much better fitted for worldly affairs, than for the
concerns of his holy office. By these men De Leon was ad-
vised to proceed to Mexico without delay, and accordingly
the last messengers sent to him by Cortes met hjm on tof
road at Iztapolapa. A sumptuous banquet was prepared at
this place for De Leon and his suit, in , which, afler several
abundant and magnificent courses, some cheesecakes and
custards were sei-ved up as great deUcacies, which were much
relished, and some of the company eat of them so heartily
that they became sick. Ortiz asserted that they had been
mixed up with arsenic, and that he had refivined from eat-
ing them from suspicion j but some who were present die-
clared that he partook of them heartily, and declared they
were the best he had ever tasted. This ridiculous stonr was,
eagerly circulated by the enemies of Cortes. Whiie De
Leon was at Iztapmapa, Cortes remained in Mexico ; and
report
t
;
4.
*!>'•
\\
OJBUH
Conquest qfiSexico vkKt ir^ Boot ir.
report tttid thftt he sent at tliii time li joocLiram'm ffokl air k'-
piWklt to tile lidtfntiate. WIlun BttfeeifWt outfirom Im
tapalapiia €orte« having notice of his i^proacb, went fahnte-'
diati^ ta n^ him, whh a grand and numerous retinue of
^ the officers and oentlenien of the dty. At meeting, mi^
By civilities passed oetween the two treatment and CortM
mevailed with some difficnHjr on De lAon to take the right
Band. De Leon proceeded immedlatdy'to tlie monaster]^ of
8t FVancis, to omrup his thanks to tlie Almighty fer lib
Mrfb arrival, idienoe'lie was conducted by Corteato « ^fldliee
prepared for him, where he was most somptoonly enlnrtafe*
ed, att bosfaiess being deferred for thAI day. On this oeea-^
Aon the 'grandeur and politeness of Cortes were so caaa^
enousythat De'LeoQ is said to have observed prhately a^
Biong his firiettdH that Cortes must have been kmg praetii-
inffjhe mBnuers of a great man*
l^oct ^y, the cabtldo or conndl of Mexico, all the eivflt
aad military officers, and all the veterans who were present'
» the capital, i^erjB ordered to assemble; and in the presence
of ^ these, die neentmte Ponce de Leon produced ids c^-
mission from his majesT^. Cbrtes kissed it, and pladed it on
hit head as a niaik of reniectful submission, and aS present
decEsred their ready obedience. The Keehtiate then recelv*
cd fJrotii Cortes the rbd of justice, in token of suitoidcdng,
Ae government into his hands, saying r**^ General, I receive
dib government from you by the oroen of his mqesQr j a!-
Aouffh It' is by no means implied that you hre Bot tn6ii
worthy both of this and of a higher trust" The general
answered, ** That he was always n^>py ia obejring the eom»
mends of his majesty, and was the iBore satisfied on the pre-
iMt occasion, because he would have an opportunity to prove
thie maliioe and Iklsehood of his enemies." De Leon replied,
** HtM in all societies there were good and bad moi, for
lach was the ^y of the world ; and he trusted that both
would be repaid iti kind.'* This was all die material business
of tbife first day. On the next, the new governor sent a i«-
ifiectful summons to Cortes, who accordingly waited upon
bim, and they had a long private conference, at which no
One was present i6x(%pc the prior O^z; Yet it was believed
^t the conversation was to die foDowing effect. Die Leoti
obserlM, that it was the wish of his majesty that those wh6
|iad itibst merit in the conquest of the' country ^^onfd Bb
ireH provided for in the distribution of pfamtatlons^ dtose
^' - s soldiers
GBAn V. not, xxl. ijf Hernando Coi^et,
2«t
mMkn mho had fint oonM fkmi Cuba bMngmore etpedrnftj^^
ooDuctoed : Wh«lc« it wm uitdentdod thai ikey had bbeii
nei^aMml, while othen who had nmrfy arrived hail been gfa-
tUMd with uanerited weakh. To thh Coittii answcmd,
that all had got shares in the 4MlAoa of the oonntrj ;> ititt
that it could not be iiiipnted to him that some of these had
turned out of less value than othen: But it was now in the
poWor of the new governor to remedv this inequaUtjr. Th«^
governor then asked why Luis 6» ObdOy had been left td
parish in a distant settlemmt, when tbue veterans ooght to
nave been allowed to enjoy the eomforts of estiMished pos-
sessions in Mocico, and the new settlements assigned to new
colenists: And why C^tain Lub Marin, BemM IMaz, and
other apmraved veterans had been n^lected. Cortes an«
sweredf That fme basineM of difBeuky and danger, none
but the veterans could be depended on: But ^t att
these were soon expected to return to Mexico, when
the new governor would have it in his powi!r 'to ptOi*
vido for them. Dfe Leon next questioned him rather shaijBN
)y about his inqprudent march against Chrlstoval de OH,
which he had undertaken without permission from his raa<i
jesty. Cortes said, That he looked upon that mbnsure as
necessary for his majestys service, as such an exanM^ lAight
have dangoous ^feets on c^Scers cntriuteil widi tikmoMihate
oommancb; and that he had reported his ibtentiians to Ms
majesty befinre he set out on uiis expedition^ Bke Leon
questioned him likewise on the affairs of Narvaez^ Garay;
and Ta{>ia } on att of which subjects Cortes gave such an-
Bwers ^at the governor seemed perfectly satis&dL
Soon, after this conference, Ortis called en thvte rery intx-
mate friends of the general, and pretendinjg; to be actuated
<Mly by the most friendly desire to serve lum, assured them
that the governor had secret orders from the emperor to be-
head Cortes immediately } and that he, from private regard^
and in conformity with the duties of his holy frmctioiis^ had
considered it to be his duty to give him this - intelligimce.
He even desired an interview with Cortes next moraine
and communicated the same infiMrmation to him, accompanl«
ed with many protestations of rega:rd and friendsbiph Thia
assuredlv gave Cortes a very serious subgect of mtlditation :
But he hoa already been informed of the intriguing dharac-
t«r of the prior, and suspected all tlib preceded from a
^jrishto be bribed for his good offices with the governor;
though
'
/■
')
it
' 4
98S
Coiiqiu$t qf Mnico rAKt u* book li*
Aough fome iiUeged that Ortis Mted bv the secret dhiee-
tions of De Leon on this oocasion. Coftes received tU»
pjretended friendijr informaUon wi^ many thanks { bol de- -
daied nis beKrfthat his miyeBty had a better opinion of hie
sennces» than to proceed against him in this clandestine
manner ; and that ne had too high an ojpinion of the gover*-
nofi'than to believe he could proceed to such extremities!
wilj^t the roval warrant. . When the prim found that his-
dv conduct did not produce the effect ^ich he had expect-
ed, he ranained so'oonfused that he knew not what farther
to say on the occasion. The new governor jgave public!
noticct for all who had complaints to make affamst the for-t-
mer administration, to brins their charges, whether against
Cortes»or any others of the civil or military officers. In
consequence of this, a vast number of accusers, litigants,
apd daimants started up { among whom many private ene-
mies of the general pr^ired unjust accusations against him,
while others made just claims for what was really due to
tbem. Some alleged liiat they had not received their just-
shares of the ^d'; othors that they had not been sufficient*
Ijr rewarded m the distribution of settlements ; some de-
manded remmieration for their horses which had been kUled
in Uie wars, though they had already been paid ten times '
thdir vdue{ and others demanded satisfaction for personal
injuries. Just as the governor had opened his court to give
a nearing to all parties, it pleased God, fi)r our sins, and to^
our great misfortune, that ne was suddenly taken ill of a fo-^
xer. Hip remamed four days in a lethargic state; after
which, by the advice of his physicians, he confessed and re-^
oeived tne sacrament with great devotion, and appointed
Ifarcos de A|;uilar, who had come with him from Spain, to
succeed himm the government. On the ninth cuy from
the commencement of his illness, he departed from tms lifo^
to the great grief of all the colonists, particularly the mili<»
tarv, as he certainly intended to have redressed all abuses,
•nd to have rewarded us according to our merits. He was
of a gay disposition, and fond of music ; and it is said that
his attnodants, while his illness was at the height, brought a
^te pUyer into his apartment, in hopes of soothing his dis-
tress. XVhile a favourite air was playing, he was said to
have beat time with perfect accuracy t and expired just when
the tune was finished.
« Immediately
dfalee-
nH de-
dfhi»
idtstia*
remitiest
that hi*
expect-
farther
i publie
the for-^
agaiut
erg. In
litigants,
ate ene-
imthim,
j^dtte to
heir juit
ufficiantp
lome de-
>enkUled
en tifloes
pertorial
tto give
I. and to
of a fo-
S after
and re*-
tinted
. to
_jy from
this life*
Ithe mili-
abttses)
He was
said that
jrought a
^ his dis-
said to
At when
lediately
«ii4» n aiGT. am. I|y Henumdo Qorteu
M9
.^Immediately on his death, th« enemies o^Gortei In M«ub(r
drcolated the mouC mal^nant slanders agaidsthidl,' wtn gb*'
ing the length of asesrting that he said sandoirai had poisoo*
ed the governor as he had before done with Oaruv. Thio
most busy in propagatii^ this malkioos report was thelPlri^
Ortis. Bat the truth was, that the vessel which brought ihtt
governor and his suite from Spain was inft^oted with thediseasft
of which he died ) above a hundred of the crew and pasMNOj^
gers having died at sea or soon after landing } among whom
idmost all the friara who came out at that time were caiti^
^V and the contagion spread through the oity of Mexico*
Some of the principal people in Mexico objected against the
appointment which the late governor had made of a sticcei^
sov ) alh^ing that Miircos de Aguilar was only a bachelor and
not a licentiate, and theretbre incapable of acting in that ca^
jpactty. The cabiido of Mexico insisted that Aguilar was
incapable of executing the hijgrh oiHcn to which De Leon hild
i^ipointed liim, on account ot his age and infirmities % as he
was a diseased hectic old man, who was obUged to drmlt
Siats milk, and to be suckled by a woman to keep him'alivei
ey recommended theretbre that Cortes should be associated
with him in the government : But Aguilar insisted on ad^'
hering strictly to the testament of his predecessor } and Cor^
tes, for substantial private reasons, was entirely avaraefrbnl
taldng any share in the authority. The enonies of Cortea
insisted an the inquiry proceeding in the manner intended
by the late governor) and Cortes readily assented tothis^
providing the new governor would take the ret^nSibilDy oft
himself ibr acting obntrary to the testament of his jwUBdecies-
sor, who had left orders tor him not to proceed tHth'thle bi^
lUBess before the court, but that tlie whole ^iouid1)e hud be^
forahis majes^.. ■ ■' '
It is now proper to revert to our situation who had bc^
kft at Naco, when Cortes set sail from Truxillo for the Hi^
vaona and Mexico. We remained tor some time at Naec^,
waiting intelligence for the sailing of Cortes, which Sando-
vid was to have sent us { but Siiavedra inaliciously suppressed
.the letters. Becoming impatient after a considerable d^yv
our captain, Luis, Mtujn, sent ten of the cavulry, amoi^
whom 1 was, to Truxillo to learn the truth. On odr arrivu
atia .place named Olancho, we learned from some ^tanianfei
Hhat 'Cortes wa& sailed; which information wasso^ afteb*
yii^Hrds confirmed by a message £pom Saavcdra. We return-
haaroi. IV. T od
%'
/•^ :■■
i'-v';
'.J'.'T*'!
t
fit
Qmqu€U if Mifii<»
9Mnmu0omn^
•d tli|<«fo« j<iyfi% to^ Mturim iioil set out fat Maoia,
UMMfiflg i^AMat Um» country vci w«f« quitting^ ai a tuuk- .
of oar cQilUc*- At a place caHed Maniairi, we n«t five mM
dieft commaad^d by IHego de VUlaneuva, oneof our hmim
fdaftiWi who were aeot, in search ef us bv Alvarado* what
wii at a frfaee not fiur diatant, named Chamtad.JiaUda^ .
where we jdined him an two days» and wliere we wore lihe*
wjae joiaed hgr a party bdmipng to Pedro^ Anas de Ayillav
ivha had seat some m hit o^takiii to adiuit ioqw diluted
betndaiies. wkb Aloarado* Fromthk [dace, wh«e we <ra»
laained three days* Ahrarsfkk sent one Gaidar Arias do A^
la to trtot on some ooo6deatiol buHness with Pedro Ariaa» 1
heUeve rektive to a raatrriage t ^ Pedro Arise seemed nniGii
lief oted heaoeforwarda to Alvarado. G(»itinui|lg our mandi
^roi^ a hosUIe counbry, the nativet killed <»e of our sol-
dier8»and wounded three f but we were too maeh in haste
Iq punidi them as they deittived. . Farther on in Guatimala»
tha natives manned the pasies against nsy and we were de*
tBinad three daya in forcing our wi^ tbrcHig^» <m which oo*^
aasion I veoeived' 4 slight wound* While in the vaU^ wheee
the ait^ of Ouatimala naa been smoe bulk, and di< the people
«f which^ wtta hoatilof we had a Bumber of shockt oi an
eiath()ualce, all oC which dontinued a long wlale» mA -win so
friolani that sdveral of our soldiers were thrown down* Out
Mpaing old GuatinyJa^ the natives assembled agaioat at ia
ptaHtjle arrayt but we drove them before us^ and took posse»>
aiiHi of their magnificent, dwellings and quadrangles m 1^^
ia^g^ and hirttw <mrselvea next day on the plain, where w^
jmaiiiicd tan di^ Duving this time Alvarado summoned
IM jMH^boiiring Indians; to submit^ bull ^ey attgdcided'ia
MpMr^ We then proceeded by long mardMr to ^fiitepac,
vMWre Alvarados main force was stationed, .whence we ai<a>
aeedoiHy Stooonuaco and T^aatepeo toirards lifexieoyloB-
ifm tpro aaUJars on; our iaarc», and the Mociean hitA nil»>
ad Juan VebH|uez, who had been a chief under OoatiiDOI-
ain. ■■ . . , «ji. '.ow;.-*tH:'tu,
On owr arrival at OuKaca» we leained^ ue li^
dalth. of P<HiCe de Leon the govem<>r. We pressed finrward
la ,mxioo> and on our anslnil at Ghalto sent messengers to
^ifi>rm Goftes of our i^iproach, and to request he woidd
>f«K^«ida us rnlh. good qufutersrhavix^ been .two yesM atfd
4luiBt jamaths abMlBt,.oa our ^medition. Gortes, alteaded
% JVimy gentlemen <m h<H^eba«t» met us oatfia cauieaay
^i, " and
9i tion aau*
Cartes,
ml
and mBooatpmitd iif into (he dhr, wbere wt ianneilklii^ w<ui
t» th* fftwtchiiffkloi«cmi»tlMnkltoO«Dte«ttriv^^
after wmdi we west to the jfaienk^pekctt whan AMipplBh
«M eiitertalmiMnfe wn providad forim Aljierada iMi»|tp
«Mkie at the fortfeai, ef which he hadi been apMiBMil)fM^
Jmu Marin fMut to Ibdge with Saadoval t and Gapt||ia Uuft
Aanchm and I» were taken by Andres de Tapia to nit Hqhw.
Corte« and flarideml and all cmr other friend* lent —prawnti
tif goM and caeao to bear our expencet*. Nest day« m^f
fiimi jhmchea and I went to wait upon the new fuvenMr
Agnjiir, aecempanied by Sandoval and DeTapia* We wene
TCoeifed widi moch pohtencM, M^ing he wodd haved^an
every thing in his power for ni^ if to authociMd, ,but eNrary
lliing ha^ng been M>rred by De Leon, to hb nu^y* bis
wai uniMe to malge any OKW arrangeniMitei : ;
At thii time Dieno de Ordea arrived from Cuba, who ««§
laid to have circnlated the report ofourdeathti birtbede-
eftnred that he had dnly lent an account of the KniinrtMnato
cataitrapheof Xiealonga ae it really happened,* and that thie
misMpreeentatlan proceeded ciitirdy finm the leetor Seta
Oortoi Itad aosnndi bunnew on faia handa that he thowht
propor to drop thit affiikr,: and endeavonrcd to iwcevfltjiii
prdpertft which had been dimmed of nnd«» the tnppoidtjbajyf
ki death. A great part of it had beeneaqieaded'iii eiMwit
ittg: hAi AuMral obM^iet^ and in thenardiage flrf^perpeliial
—MM At hit ■anl) but, on hi« being diiooeiMriedtoba t^m,
had been repirihaied by Qne Juan C£cerai:lbr hie own, ^mn^
fit when he might happen todie« eoibat GarteefOonUi'iiQt
recover hiei|wxi|wHy. Ordat, irfio was a man «l'»Ni^reap^
rmnoet lacing mat Cortes was ifkHenmuiAk Into ne^cei siofie
ha was superseded from the govetniuent, advised him .In t/h
anise nmre stato and eonsecpienc^ to maintain the ffespeotdne
tohfattt But snch was his native plainneia of madaciiktlMt
ha never wiited to be adled otherwise thav sinifSy Cmims
. ■■ . n
. a It sts^be frepcr t9 ftnaik b thh plsM, tlttt dw AscsftS^
hjr ite M«dcamibcfiDM the coimiicst «• a nmlivni ^puDchawtof ims0 |n>
Im iipteadof niQiwy, and ths piactice wa* continuea undier the SpanUi i^
nmiMit a* the marhett were mipiriied by the er^g^ nld^^ 'CHMKcro,
1. 8M. tap (liafc Hkie Mexicans iiiedflvettibttiraHtftirisanSt. t.r
wWGhtlisf cowntai bjr triguipU*, or in Mdu osmaplsgeaeh thrae/l '
^MfiMwatM* 9»Snaac9tiMdaiiu,c»Jitd^^ S. Q,
\VvXk' 4.FieGci ofcopperindwtonaM'tbeteterT. ^
»♦
m'
Vor^iuett of MtSieo .i «iht ii. book tit
%tta^ lioble ii«niet oi gloriom m tkow of Cetar, Pompqf* or
<HiiMroftl«in4»fi|}theiinci«ntti Urdu likciHM informed GsrM
Hi ft ekirrefit fesolt in Mexico, that he intended to »ut SnkuMr
'^rh*ntel^ to deftlh in prieon, and warned him that he was
•|Mwerfil% patroniied. About thit tiine» the treamirer Ertrada
'iwatrifcd onrof hi»dattehteni to. Jorge de Alvarado, and aii-
•dther to Don Lai« de Ouaman, eon tothe Condode CaateUar.
' I%dit> dfli Ahrarado went w&t to fitoain ^to soKcit the garanih
'Inimtr of Chiatimahi, sending in the meantime his Brother
d^ge to Mduce that provincet with a force diieHy conqpdsed of
'•Ihe'warriort <»f the diffierent nations that were in amr alfianoi*
'^Mtm governor dso sent a foroe acMnst the provineeorchiapoy
iMlder the command of Don Junn finviqoezde Ousmanv a
'Hneakl relation to «he Duke«tf Meciina Sidonia : Andati expe-
dition was sent against Uie ZapotccoRmountaineerSi under
'kikMfo'dt MelYera, one of our veteran soldiers. n ^3^
- > Having lingpered about eight months, Marcos die Agiiilar
'4kiAy aiM appointed by his testament Alonao de £stram the
'iheasuver to succeed him in the government : But the Calnldo
•jfef-Menico Mid mkhy of the nrincipid Spaniards were very so^^
^AilBiii thtfl' Cortes should be associated in the govemwenti
iMd Wt hfe <pletiBniptory refusal, they reoomkn^^< that 9ftn»
^ddtnat^KPhtf was then a%tM3til>4imjor, drauld actin conjunction
-#Mi Sstradn,' which aeeordin^y was the case. The incoinpe*
ilMiCei '€tf 'Eslinida for conducting the govemmmt in the pre*-
«iMilll^ ecin^ifkitUMi particularly appeared from the ibUowiM
-CiNfyinisianoei >K«no d» Ouiman, who hod hdd the gov^m^
^eM i^PlutvncA fw two yeara, conducted himself in a furious
tMd tj^nni^l wanmr, arbitrarily extending the bounds of
4ill'^vir<isdktion on the nioM IVivokKis pr^nctSk and putting
•W math all who datwd to oppose hfr, commuidsi ' Among
^llfes^'ffedlroiGenaales de TruxiUo, having assintedtndv that
^Mb dtfettkiWiUi depoideat on Motico, Guzman iiamediatety
4iiidtred\l|ini- tii> be Imngedi He put matiy other Spaninntt
^to death, merely to make himself feared < and set the autho-
ri^ of the governor of Mexico at defiance. Some of the
*^iiishititt'6f 0»rte»^rsuaded Estrada to represent to the ccftirt
[^ fSj^py that he had been compelled by the infltiend^ of
ICcHrtesjio associfte Sahdov^ with himself m the govenuiicpity
.oontnnry.to his inclination, and to the detriment of his majes-
• ties aefvicek By the same conveyance, a string of matevowht
'^ftlsdiodds were transmitted against the g^h^ali as tfaoit hd
*had|kU86nedGarayi'ltel^ii, otid Ag^ that he had
..*: endeavoured
K»tf«
rttB
lod ait-
MtcUar.
Lfowrov
brother
idMdof
dRAF. Y. Iter. xtx. bji HdmmiAi Certa.-
AM
Chiap»»
nnanv »
kiiexpe-
), unmr
Aguilar
ram the
Gebiido
tery so^
mnient'i
ijunctioo
nooinp*»
the pre*-
bUowinc
A furiotife^
oundAot*
IputtiM
Among
rulyl^t
nediat^
paniarai
le autho-
te of the
ecObrt
enici^of
Mdeatonred to adminiiter anenio in chetneaket tot^gtmft.
number of people at a feait i that he waa plotting.the ikatha
of the veedor and factor Chirinoa and Salnar, than in Jail |
and that he had procured the death of hii wife* Donna (Qat»t
lina. All thesu Ilea were supported by the iuduatry of tho
contador Albomoa, then in 8punt And, in comequence c^
these groM faUehoods, Cortes was partly judged unheard { aa>
orders were sent to releose Solazar and Chirinos i and Pedro
de la Cucva, commendator-miyor of Alcantara* was ordered
to go out to Mexico with an escort of three hundred soldiers
at the expence of Cortes, with authority to put Cortes t6
death if his gailt were proved, and to distribute his propel ty
among the veteran conquerors of Mexico. This was to havor
been done, however, under tlic authority of a court of royal
audience, which was to be sent out to Mexico i but all ended
in nothing! a* neither De la Cuevaaor thecourtofroyaf
audience made their appearance.
Estrada was greatly elated by the countenance he received
at court, which he attributed to his lieing considered as Atu^
tural son of the CathoKc kina. He disposed of governments
at his pleasure, and carried cvury thing with a high hand*
At this time he sent his relation Maxoricjos to inquire into th«
conduct of Don Juan Enrique/ de Guzman in Chiapa, i^
is said to have made more founder there than was profxtr. He
sent also a force against the Zti()otecas and ^Aixtixsmt under
tlio command of one De Barrios, said to be a brnve sokliec
who had served in Italy. I do not mean De BAi:rios of Seville^
the brother-in-law ot Cortes. This officer marched with a
hundred men against the Zanotecas { but th^ surprised him»
one night, and slew himself and seven of his soldiers. Such
was the difference between these raw half formed solders, who
were ignorant of the stratagems of the enemy* and us the ve-
teran conquerors. One Figuero, a particular friend of
Estrada, was sent with a hundred new soldiers to the province
of Oaxaca. On passinff through the country of the Zapote-
cas, Figuero fell into a dispute with one Alonzo de Herreroi
who hod been sent to command there by the late governor
Amiilar, in which Figuero and three soldiers were wouiukxL
Finding himself unable for the field, and that his sddiers
were unfit for expeditions among the mountains, Figuero
thooffht proper to search for the sepukbres <^ the andenit
chiefs, on purpose to appropriate the gokl which used to be
buried abng with them ; by which means he collected ^boive
an
fAvt luitofm fit
I
t
m Imadrtd rtin—nrt eiovMt and rituracd witb this wmUi
to MflriMH iMurivg Hm protioM in • worw ttota Uwn bffbrai
FiMOB If laieo |m w«nt to Vem Cms, where be toAmtM fw
Bpti^ I but h« and all bis wcakh went totbe bottodif w tb«
tPMMl in wbich be tkiled wm loat in aitorm. The buaioeie
ief Miljecting tbeie IucUmm wm finelijr left for ut, the vetenM
af CoetsaeualcQ, who at knoth reduced them to tuboiii^*' f
Tbay uaed to eabniit durinj( uie luromer, and to rebr' w) :\i
IIm tarrenta rendered their oountrv inacoeieible. i .vu« on
three expeditiMM against them t and at last the lowi* U St
ikJi^iso was bidH to keep them under subj< Jtior
When the gofemor heard how his ^iend Fl^ . ^ j had been
pakramad bv Herrera, he sent the officn-s of jusiice to vpp"^
bend him, out he made his escape to the rocks and woods,
Tbegr took a soUier named Corte|o who used to accoBipanjr
bi^* wboBi thajr bn>a|;ht prisoner to Mexico, where the ^
▼emor ordered his right hand to be cut off, Mrithout bearma
bim in his defence, although he was a gentlemau. About diis
time alsO) a sei^ant bekinginc to Sandoval wounded one of
£stmdaa servants in a ouarreT, Ibe governor bad him ar-
rested, »nd sentenced him to have his right hand -cut oC
Gorti« und iSandovul resided at this time in Quernavaca.
piftly on prudcntkd considerations ) and immediatdj poaled
,o£r to Mexico^ where he is said to have usfid such severe ex*
pressions to the governor as to put him in fear of his life. He
called his firitnJs about him to form a ffuard for his peraoni
and hnaiediat^ released Salaaar and Chiriaoo from prison*
by whose advice he issued an order for the expnkion of Cor«
tes from Mexico, When this was rMnvsented to Cortes* ha
declared his readiness to obey j and since it was the will of
GoOt that he who had gained Uiat city at the expcnce of hie
best bfood* should be nnislied from it by base and unworthy
Inen, he was resolved to g ''^r •^\iintcly to Sm&a vnd demand
|nsdct ijrom hismaiesty, fl r ; t; 'd thec!' ''^tantly, and
wwt to one of his gov r-; ..ic : ices at Cojohuatan, from
nbenoe in a few days he proceeded towards the coast. Es-
tradas lady, a person woithy of memory for her many vir«
IMes, seeing the dangerous consequences which were likely to
nauk from this absurd and arbitrary conduct, remopstrated
with bar husband on the snl^ect, reminding hun diim manv
frvanrs be had reoeiv^ed hom Cortes, the ingratitude wilb
yAadk be noar repaid him, and the many pmrerfiilfinends of
lllf jgencraL Thwe- jtyrcsentations a«e said to hate iiii&loed
the
Iv
▼.Wrr. <». fty
Oortm^
At UtMUicr to Npent ijiKwrelv of the vioiflot iCi|M Im kai
Jmt at tkifl time, fVa JaliAii Owrioa, tte fint bMHp
of Thicila armed in Nenr Spain, who wm ■mch diipliaN^
4M1 baariag tha prooaadlng* of iia govaroori and tuo Ag«
lifter hisAniTal in Mexico, where ha was received with* gmeit
INWapf he ondeflook to mediate a reoondliataon hetween the
Mremor aad Cortes, lianv seditious persons, kaowii^ the
diisatilfitftion iif Cortes, offered him their ssrriccs if ha woaU
Mt bineelf uj» as an independent monarch in New Spain, and
Im evm received similar offinrs from many persons in Mesrfca
He immediately anrested all of these mon who were in his
ceacht tjureatenrng topnt them |o death, and wrote to infitni
Che bishop of Tlttcak of their treesonabie offera. The bishop
waited on Cortes, and found his condnct m every respect si^
Jtii6ctoiy» of which he sent wor^ to Mexico i and finding
that Cortes was oositivelv determined upon going to SjpMdh,
the prdate added to his letter a severe censure from himself
aqion the mitoonduct of those who had driven himfiraaitlwnce>
Section XXIt
N^mUive of Ocatrreneet^fiym the Departure qfCortei to JSkm
rope Oil his Death.
About this time lilcewise, Cortd received letters from Ae
preudent of the cowncil of the Indies, the Duke of Bqer*
and several others <of his friends in Spain ; itrongty oi^^ig
the necessity of his appearance at court to counteract liik mt^
lignant accusations jof his numerous enemies .% By the same
conveyance, he received notice of the death of his fiither.
Having perfiunied funeral obsequies in meniory of his fiither,
he ordered two ships to be purchased, which he stored so i^
faundantly with provisions of all kinds, that after his arrival In
%Mun the overplus might have served for a voyage of tW>
^ears. I am uncertain wheUier Cortes returned to Mexico
in order to arrangehis private affiurs j but |ie appointed eefM*
I Aooonliiw to RolwrtMn, H. «6S. Cortet toek die wwlaUoa of N>
turning into Sptia to avoid expoting himself to tfie ignomay of a trial ki
Mexico, the wcse ofhit triumpht, on hearing t]ut a conmiMMm of iiiquvf
into hia condnct waa on the point of coming out to New'8paia for that for-
pow. Hiax alrnoel MrpetwaHy ncgiecti dates, in die latter Mrt of hb wmk
••IpeciaBy : kei ws Issca fron JMiertMo that it wss aow the year ittt.^
299
Conquest of Mexico part ii. book ir*
ml agents for that purpose, the principal of whom was th«
Kccmiate Altamirano. His majorrdomo, Esquival, was em-
ployed in making preparations for the voyage } who, in cro«-
shuff the lake to Ajotzinco in a large canoe with six Indians
ana a negro, having some ingots ofgold in hispossessionf
was waylaid and murdered t but the manner of his death
could never be ascertained, as neither canoe, Indiann, nor
n^o could ever be traced. The body of Esquival was found
four days afterwards on a small inland, half eaten by the birds
of prey* There we're many suspicions about this affair, some
of such a nature as I cannot relate ; but no great inquiry was
made as to his death. Cortes appointed other persons to
complete the preparations for his voyage ; tind offered by pro-
clamation a free passage for all Spaniards w^hu had liceniie from
%he government to go to Spain, with n supply ofprovisions du-
ring the voyage. He took home with him from Mexico fl
fiTeat number of the curiosities of the country to jireMiit tO
hh majesty, among which were various unknown birds, tvt'd
tigers*, many barrels of ambergris and indurated bulsum^
and of a kind resembling oil ^: Four Indians who were re-r
niarkably expert in playing the stick with their feet : Some
of those Indian jugglers who had a manner of appenrin<{ to
•fly in the air : 'rhree hunchbiicked dwarfs of extraordinary
deformity : Some male and female Indians whose skins were
remarkable for an extraordinary whiteness, and who had a
natural defect of vision ♦. Cortes was likewise attended by
. .several yOung chiefs of the Mexican and Tlascalan nations,
who went over along with him into Spain at their own re-
quest '.
Every
t The Mexiran Tiger, or Jaguar, called TIatlauhqui ocelotl by the Mexi-
.cant, the /elu onca oH naturalists, is of a yellowish colour with cornered
annular spots, which are yellow in the middle. It grows to the size of a
wolf or large dog, and resembles the Bengal tiger, ^/» tigru, in craft and
cruelty, but not in size or courage. — E.
3 Perhaps the Balsam of Capivi, which is of that consistence. The Indu-
rated, balsam may be that of Tolu. — £.
4 These were albinos, an accidental or diseased variety of the human
species, having chalky white skins, pure white hair, and a want of the pig-
mentum nigrum of the eye. The white rabbit is a plentiful example of
animal albinos, which variety continues to propagate its kind.— £.
, 5 According to Herreta, Dec. iv. lib. iij. c. 8. and lib. iv. c. l. as quoted
t>y Ro)>ert»pn, note cxxiv. the treasure which Cortes took over with him con-
sisted of 1 400 marks of wrought plate, 200,000 pesoes of fine gold, and
lO^oeo of inferior standard : besides many rich jewels, one in particular
being
CHA*. ▼• 8CCT. xxii. btf Hernando Cortes,
m
e. The indu-
Every thing being in readiness for the vojrage, Gwtes .con-
fessed and received the sacrament, after which, he embiu4ced
along with Sandoval, de Tapia, and other gentlemen ; and
in forty-one days arrived in Spain, where he disembark-
ed near the town of Palosj in the month of December' i527.
As soon as he set his toot on shore, be knelt down and re-
tamed thanks to God for the safety of his voyage. This
fortunate voyage was soon succeeded by severe griet^ in con-
sequence of the death of the valiant Sandoval, who expired
after a lingering illness in the house of a rope-maker in Palos^
Who robbed him in hiH presence of thirteen bars of gold, in
the following manner : Perceiving the extreme weakness of
Sandoval, he sent away all his servants on a pretended mes-
sage to Cortes ; and then w^nt into Sandovais room, where
he broke open hi<« chest and took out the gold, our poor
iiriend being too ill in bed to hinder him, and even appre-
hensive if he made any outcry, that the robber might take
his life. As soon as he got the gold, he made his escape
into Portugal, where he could not be pursued. Sando-
val grew worse hourly, and as the physicians pronounced
his end approaching, he prepared himself for death like a
good Christian, and made his will, by which he left all his
)}ropcrty to a sister, who afterwards married a natural son of
the Conde de Medelin. Sandoval died universally regretted,
and was followed to the grave by Cortes and a great train of
mourners. May God pardon his sins ! Amen,
Cortes transmitted by express, an account of \\\& arrival
and of the death of his friend Sandoval to his majesty and to
bis patrons at court ; and when the Duke of Bejar and the
Conde de Aguilar waited on his majesty on the occasion,
they found him already acquainted by means of letters from
Cortes, and that he had been pleased to issue orders for his
being received in the most honourable manner in all the towns
and cities where he might have occasion to pass. On his ar-
rival at Seville, Cortes was entertained by the Duke of Me-
dina Sidonia, who presented him with several beautiful horses.
He proceeded from thence to attend the nine days devotion
at the shrine of our lady of Guadeloupe, where Donna Ma-
ria, the lady of the commendador Don Francisco de los Co-
bos, and many other ladies of high rank arrived at the same
time.
being worth 40,000 pesos. The value of this enumerated treasure amounts
to L.104,350 Sterling numerical value ; but estimating its efficient value in
those dayu, with Robertson, as equal to six times the present amount, it ex-
reeds L. 600,000.— E.
fM
Conquest oj Mexico fabt u. book l^
M t
time. After Gwtes had performed his devotions, and jglvoi
f barity to the poor, he went in grand style to pay his r«*
qpocts to Donna Maria, her beautiful sister, and the many
other laidies of distinguished rank who were along with her,
where he exhibited that politenessi gdlantry, and ^^enerodty,
in which he surpassed all men. He presented various goldeQ
ornaments of great value to all t|ie ladies, giving a plume of
§reen feathers richly ornamented with oold to every one. of
le ladles, but bis presents to Donna Maria apd her sister
were particulariy rich and valuable. He then produced his
Indian dancers and players with the stick, who astonished all
t|^e iq)ectators. And leamibg that one of the mules belong-'
vOtt to Donna Marias sister bad fallen lame, he presented her
with two of the finest which could be procured. Waiting
the d^iarture of these ladies, he attended them during their
journey to the court, entertaining them magnificently on alt
occasions, doing tlie honours with a grace peculiar to him*
self, insomuch wat Donna Maria de Mcndoza b^ran to have
thoughts of a marriage between her sister and Cortes, and
wrote in such strains of the politeness and generosity of Cor*-
tes, that she brought over the commendador her husband en*
tirely to his interest.
4 Cm his arrival at court, his majesty was pleased to order
martments for him, and all his friends came out to meet
him on the road. Next day he went by permission to throw
himself at his majestys feet, accompanied by the Duke of Be*
jar, the Admirtu of the Indies, and the commendador isS
jLeon* His majesty commanded him to rise, on which CkH>
tes, after a short enumeration of his services and vindicatioQ
of his conduct from the aspersions of his enemies, presented
a memorial in which the whole was fully detailed. His ma»
jesty then honoured him with the title of Marquis della Valle
de Oaxaca and the order of St Jago, giving nim an estate
for th^ support of his new dignity, and appointed him Cap*
tain-genenu of New l^ain and of the South Seas. Thua
loaded with honours, Cortes retired from the royal presence;
and shortly afterwards falling dangerously ill, the emperor '.
did him the honour of paying hira a vi^it in person. One
Sunday after his recovery, when the emperor was at mass in
the c^edral of Toledo, ^ated according to custom with all
the pobility in their proper stations, Cortes came there ra^*
ther late, designedly as it was said, after all were seated ; and,
paiMipg before all the others, took his place next the Conde
.narstx?^-
■j^
(.BOOKIi»
fmiiSF: ?• sjBCT. iprii. hjt Hernando Cortes,
n»
de N^nao, who sat nearest the emperor. This gave sreat oC>
fence to many, though some said it was done by desire of
ihe emperor. Inde^ Cortes felt his elevation so much, that
he ceased to hold some of his patrons in the eatiroatimi thqr
deserved, bestowing his whole attentions on the Duke bf Be-
jar, the Admiral, and the Conde de Nasao. He lulled
Jikewise to the emperor to be reappointed to the government
of New Spain ; but, though supported in this request by his
noble patrons, his majesty refused compliance, and from thia
dme he did not seem so much in favour as before.
The emperor now proceeded on a journey to Flanders |
pnd shortly after his departure, Cortes was married to l>on-
na Juanna de Zuniga, on which occasion he presented his
Jady with the most magnificent jewels that had ever been seen
in Spain. Queen IsaMla, from the report of the lapidaries^
expressed a wish for some similar jewels, which Cortes ac-
cordingly presented to her { but it was reported that these
were not so fine or so valuable as those he had given to his
]ady. At this time Cortes obtained permission from the
council of the Indies to fit out two ships on a voyage of dis-
covery to the south seas, with the condition of enjoying cer-
tain privileges and revenues from all lands that were acquired
through his means to the crown of Spain. Don Pediro de
]a Cueva, who was to have gone to Mexico with a oommis-
;|don to try Cortes and to put him to death if found guilty»
' was now upon die most intimate footing with him, and told
Jiini that even his innocence would have been suflScientty ex-
pensive, as the cost of the cxpediUon, which he was to have
|)aid, would have exceeded itOO.OOO crowns.
Cortes sent Juan de Herrada, a brave soldier who had at-
tended him in his expedition to Honduras, to carry a rich
present of gold, silver, and jewels, to his holiness Pope Cle-
ment, with an ample memorial of all the circumstances re-
specting the newly discovered countries } and on this occasion
solicitea some abatement of the tithes of New Spain. Her-
rada was accompanied to Rome by several of the Indians
who shewed feats of agility, and with whose performances the
pope and cardinals were highly diverted. His holiness, on
the rAceipt of the letters and memorial, gave thanks to God
i^for die opportunity of making so many thousands converts to
' the holy catholic faith, praising the services which Coites
imd we had rendered to the church and our sovereigni and
sent us bulls of indulgence, freeing us from the penalties of
oiur
1
■ '■*V'h
'Conquest of Mexico part lu book ir.
jbtir slns» and others for the erection of churches and hospi*
tals; but I know not what was done in regard to the tithes.
When Hcrrada had conchided his business at Rome, he re-
turned to SpCiin with a liberal reward from the pope, who
jgave him the rank of Count Palatine, and stronelv recom-
mended that he should have the grant of a considerable planta-
tion in New Spain, which he never got. After his return to
America, he went to Peru, where Diego de Almagro left
him in the office of governor to his son. He was high in the
favour and confidence of the family and party of Almugro,
with whom he servetl as maestre de campo under young Al-,
niagroj and headed the party which put to death the elder
t)on Francisco Pizarro.
While Cortes remained in Spain, the members of the
xxmxt of royal audience an-ived in Mexico. Of this court,
Niino <lc Guzman, who hnd been governor of Panuco, was
S resident ; the four oydors or judges being the licentiates,
fatienzo, Deigadillo, Parada, and Maldoniido { not thegootl
Alonzb Malduiiado' who was uflerwards governor of Guatima-
1a. These, magistrates had greater powers than had hitherto
|jeen confided to any officers in New Spain, being entrusted
with the final distribution of landed property, in which his
majesty had particularly charged them to take care of the
interests of the conquerors, and they evinced from the very
:first a determination to do justice. Immediately after their
arrival, they issued a proclamation, requiring the attendance
of an agent from each settlement, and to be furnished with
memonds and returns of the several districts ; and the agents
accordingly arrived as soon as possible. Being then in Mexir
CO in the execution of my office of procurator-syndic of the
town of Coatzacufiico, I posted to that place in order to be
present at the election of agents, and after a violent contest.
Captain Marin and I were elected by the majority. On our
arrival in Mexico, we found that two of the oydors had died
of pleurisies, and that the factor Salazar had acquired sb
complete an ascendancy qver the others that they followed
his advice in every thing, llie agents pressed a final distri-
bution of lands ; but Salazar persuaded the president and the
two remaining oydors not hastily to part with that source of
patroTi^, which woidd necessarily diminish their influence.
"^Salazkr even set out for Spain, to solicit the government
fbt the president, Nuno de Guzman ; but was sliipwrecked
en the coast near Coatzacuaico, and had to return t6 Mexico.
Estrada*
11
CUAP. V. 9BCT< XXII. bgf Hemando Coftes.
tot
Estrada died soon after being superseded, which h6 owed
more to his own tameneas than to any right the memliers oi
the court could found on bis majestyH or&rs, which left the
ffovernment entirely with him^ without saying, any thing <^*
tne association of Guzman { who yet usurped the sole gdveriH
ment to himself as president. Estrada vra^ universally r^ret*
ted, as he conducted himself with perfect impartiality, and
would assuredly have been supported, if he had insisted oa
retaihing his office of governor.
A commission was appointed at (juatimala, where Jorge
de Alvarado commanded, of which I never learnt the resiut^
Iti Mexico the most severe proceedings were adopted against
the Marquis della Vatle, during which tlic factor Salazar re-
viled and slandered him in tlie grossest manner. The licen-
tiate Altamirano, his friend and manager of his aiTairt, re-
monstrated with the court against these indecent proceedings,
but to no purpose, as Guzman and the surviving judges gav«
their countenance to Salazar, who became more dbusive thaa
ever ; insomuch that on one of these occasions Altamiraiio
drew his poniard, and would have stabbed the factor, throw-
ing the court into confusion and uproar, if he had not been
prevented. Altamirano was sent prisoner to the citadel,. and
Salazar was ordered into arrest in his own house, and t]ie
city was thrown into an universal ferment. At the end «»f
three days, the licentiate was liberated from confinement at
Our earnest desire, and the dispute was quieted for the pre-
sent ; but a more serious disseutiou succeeded. One Zav»*
los, a relation of Narvaez, had been sent by his wife in quest
of him,^ as he had gone as governor to the Rio Palmas, and
had tibt been heard of for a long wliile.. On coming to Mexi-
co, Zavalos, as is supposed by instigation of the members of
the royal court of audience, lodged criminal information a-
gainst all the soldiers of Cortes who had been concerned in
the attack upon Narvaez ; so that about two hundred and
fifty of us, then in the city, myself among tlie rest, were ep-
prehendetl, brought to trial, convicted, and sentenced to a
fine of a certaui quantity of gold, and banis^hnlcnt to thediSr
tatice of five leagues from Mexico : But the banisliment was
remitted and very few paid tiie fine.
The enemies of the marquis took a new ground of attack,
alleging that he had embezzled the treasure of Montezuma
and Guatimotzin, and was answerable to the' soldiers both
ier what he had appropriated to his own U6e^ and for that
i!
. IF
I'
ii
r^
Conqiutt of Mesicd part ii< book fi«-
wMcIi had been soat to Spain as a pttaent to bk imyoifrf add
liad been captured by Florin the French coraain A lon^
Jiat of other demands followed, on vtery one of which he wai
found liable, and hig property was sold under executions for
the payment. At this time likewise, Juan Suarez the brother
of Donna CataHna, the frst wife of Cortes, charged hitn with
her murder, oflering to produce witnesses of the manner of
her death. Many of us the veteran conquerors, who were
the friends of Cortes, seeing the harsh manner in which he
was treated, met by appointment at the house of Garcia Hol>
gum, under the license of an alcaldeorjudee of police, wfiere
we entered into a resolution to renounce all our claims to ih^
treasure; But when the judges of the royal tribunal heard
of our proceedings, they ordered us all to be arrested for an
91e|^ meeting! and though we produced the license under
which our meeting was held, they again banished us five
; leagues from Mexico; but we were lulowed to return. A
Soclamation was issued about this time, that aU persons of
oorish descent^tor from those who had been burned or san^
\henited ' by the holy tribunal, as far as the fourth generation,
f ^ooid quit New %>ain within four months, under the penal-
> fry of losing half their property. Vast numbers of informer*
and accusers started up on this occasion, by which an infinite
j nnmber of most infamous slanders were propagated ; and yet
; afler all only two individnals were expelled.
llie court was gaierous in fulfilling the royal commands
respecting the veteran conquerors, who were all amply pro-
trided for; but they granted an excessive license in regara to
^. the branding of slaves, in consequence of which so many were
made in the province of Panuco that it became almost depo*
,^ pnlated. Guz^n made a new-years-gift to Albomos, who
I was newly returned to Spam, of the whole district of Guaa-
f' |mltepec. Albomos brought with him a royal patent for
:, erecting some sugar-works at Chempoalla, which soon went
to ruin. The (^dor Delgadillo was much censured for his
:.Jree gijis, as it was observed he always reserved some rents to
■ himseUj and the consequent extortions and oppressions of
:> those he patronized were excessive. The other oydor Ma-
; tienzo was superannuated. The abuses of the members of this
supreme
6 Tliose who had worn tlie son tenito, or penal dren, in an «itfe de ^.
In the original translation the destenJanU <ff Imlians are iucludad b^ toil
'■' pKNcription, which certainly muit be an error.— £•.
CHAV* ▼«: sncT* J»ii. . ^^ Hnnanio Cartes,
90S
snprelne court became at letigth so notoribnk, Aat ath^
membera of more discretion were sent out to supersede them.
Old Matienzo, who was the least execptiottaUe» was sent to
Panuoo to inquire into and remedy the abuses committed iil
that province ; where he revoked the grants made hfi the
president and Delgadillo to their friends and clients, bntow^
ii^ the plantations on those who were pointed out by the
royal inMructions j but all those who were desired to deliver
up their plantations endeavoured to bring proof diat they
had been granted in reward of former services, disclaiming
all favour or patronage from Guzman or Delgadillo, and most
of them succeeded in keeping what they hira got, the only
persons deprived bdng Albomos of his new-years^ftj ViU»>
rea1,i and ViUegas.
What the members of the royal tribunal understood that
they were to be superseded, they resolved to send agents to
%»inj provided with witnesses and documaits to voiiek for
the proprie^ of their cdnducti and for this purpose all the
veteran conquerors and other persons of distinction were con-
veheid In the great charch, to choose an acent for ouT inte-
rest. The president and judges of the rovak tribundl reconv-
mebded Sauunr the factor ; and though tney had committed
some improprieties, as they had in the main done us justice
in the repmrtimentost or distribution of pn^rty and vasaili*
we were aU diqKMed to vote for the parson they Teoonunend-
ed i but. when we had assemUed in the churchy so many per*
9oni had crowded in who had no ri^t, making a prowfpiom
abise and ooi^sion) that we could not proceed to businem ;
«nd thoi^h all who had not been summoned were ordered
to witlidraw, they refosed and insisted to vote m wdl aa the
afSaetn* We therefore adjourned to the next day, at the
house of the presidettt; and none being admitted init those
•aumnoned^ ue business was soon amicauy adjusted by agree*
ment with the raemberi of the royal audience, and two agents
were chosen. One, named Antonio de Carvajal, for the
edurt I and Bernardino Vasquez de Tapia, for Cortes and
the cot ■jHerors. In my <^inion, both of these were equally
devoted to the views of the president ; but this was natural
on our part, as Guzman had done much more for us during
his diort administration, than Cortes during oU the period of
bis power. Yet we were always more attached to Cortes, who
had been our commander, than he was to our interest, not-
withstanding that he had his miyestys orders to pn^vide for us s
I
/
io§
Conquest ofMikico *AM li. book ii#
)i -''
of which die following k a strikii^ proof. The president
and jiUdses used their influence with us to petition his majes-
^ that Cortes might never be permitted to return to New
^^n, under pretence that his presence niight occasion fac*
tions and disturbances, tending to the loss of the country.
We opposed this to the utmust of our power } and as Alva-
rado arrived at this time from Spain with the commission of
goviemor and 1ieutenant-|g^neral of Guatimala, and decorat-
ed with a commandery cA St Jago, he and the friends of Cor-
tes agreed to lay a statement of every thing before his majee^
1^, giving a clear developement of the views and conduct of
the members of the rt^flj audience. From this it appeared
to the royal council of the Indies, that all the measures they,
had taken against Cortes wert dictated bv passion and inte-
rest, and the determination of recalling the present members
of the audience was thereby confirmed^ The presence of
Cortes in Spain at this time wns also highly favourably to hiii
interests, and he was now rapidly advancing to the piniuwltf
of his fortune. . u*?,*
As Guzman wiis now quite certain of being superseded, he
determined upon an expedition into the province of Xalisco^
now called New Gallicia '. For tliis purpose he collected d
large militanr force, partly of volunteers, and partly by the
ii^uence of his supreme authority, obligii^ those who did
riot serve personally to find substitutes, and those who had
horses to sell them for half value. He took with him lilah»
wise a con»derable number of Mexicans, partly as soldiers^
and btheni to carry the baggage. In this expedition, he
cruelly oppressed the provinces through which he passed, that
he might amaSs riches. From Mechoacan * he bbtamed
a large quantity of gold much alloyed with silver, whi^ die
inhwitants had been collecting for ages ; and as the unfortu-
nate prince or cacique of that country was unable to gratify
his avarice sufRciently, he had him tortured in the first place;
and afterwards hanged on some false or trifling all^tions, to
the great displeasure of all the Spaniards in his aimy, who
considered it as the cruellest and most unjust action ever com-
mitted
• ■■ '■■■■; ■.'taamnifc/'ttt. ■■■ ""■ • "■ ' yv-'U-f
7 New Ok'litia, to! the northwest of Mexico and upon the Paclfie
Ocetui,U now included in the InteruUncta of Guadalaxara, and appears td
have been naptsd Colinu by the Mexicans.— E.
8 Mechoacan, to the weat of Mexico aad reaching to the south sea^'formfc
•aow the Inteadency'of Valladolid.— E.. ■ ''
- -»-;;.^,i^
BOOK. ll#
tresident
tsmajei-
to New
lion fao
country,
as Alva-
tUsion of
decorat-
UofCpr-
m oiBje*^
>ndact of
oppAV, ▼. fiqr. iquii, ^Mknmnig €Mlw»
M»
lures they
and int&-
; members
resence of
ihW to his
e pinnacle
rseded, he
>f Xaliacoy
collected a
rttyby the
i who did
J who had
him lilce**
IS soldiersy
dttion, he
iaased, that
) obtamed
which the
leunfortu-
to gratify
first placed ;.
itions, to
imy, who
cvereoni^>
xnitted
the Pacific
Id appears td
isea^formb
a^hud in }hm apfia. 40 lU booljr widdi hf J^ vuM
is this ilnwdltlon wm ndlhottd at tha tovB of CTttmiMnttlhL
which h« fbttodcd at a heavy axpcoot tolh«ci«im iiid to the
inhahitanta of M^dcai .andha Kouiinad fai thia jplaoa until
hiaancat
In ooniequenoe of the ii\jiiatioe of die ibmMr aoart 4if audi*
cncoi hb pu^y was pkfsed to soppress it, aild to canod aQ
its grants, nod to appoint a new one comistiBK of wise and,
upright men. Of this new tribunal, Dtm Sebastian Riunifef »'
bishf^ of St Domingo was president, and the oydors or judgeai
were the licentiates Maldonado de Salamanca* Vatco die
Sjiroga y Madrigal, afterwards bishop of Mechoacan, ZayuOa
I Toro, and Sdomon de Madrid. On coONUt ncing theit
sittings, such crowds of complainants of all descripti(»da» hUf'.
tlen^ '^**^> *'"*' fiativechien from evory city« town', and di»- '
trict ofMew Spain made application for redfdss agaidst th^
partiality and oppression of the former court, that the aoem-
bers were Quite astonished. The demands made by the i^tenta
of Cortea for what had been unjustlv taken from him, amgunti".
cd to above 200,000 crowns. As Nuno de Guzman waa alK
sent, the whole blame was laid upon him by the other jneB^
bers of the former tribunal, who alleged that they were com*
polled to act according to his orders. He was accordinai|y
sununoned to appear, which he did not think proper to div
and it was judged proper to refer the whole affiiir for the pro*
salt to the bupreiue court in Spain. Aocordin|i^pr, one Tonr%
a licentiate, was sent with fuU powers from Spun to Xalisco^
having orders to transmit Ouaman to Mexico, and to commit
hhn to prison. . Torre was also commissioned to indemnify ui
for the fines whiofa had beoi imposed on us respecting the af*
fiijr of Narvaez.
The pn^ierties of DelgadiOo and Martimzo, were sold feal
pay the danuges of those who had gained causes against theaa*
and their persons imprisoned for the deficiency* A brother
of Ddgadillo, who was alialde-miyor in Oaxaca, and anothet
who was alcidde among the Zapotecas, were fined and inqpri-
soned for the same reason, and died in jail.. DelgadiUo and
Martienzo returned ai^rwwds to Spain in pover^, wlierethqfi
soon died. The new judges were wise and just, r^fulattng
their conduct entirelv according to the will of God and thi
kiuff, and shewing a laudable xmI for the protection and coih
versmn of the Indians. They prohibited aO braadinff of tht
natives for sl«Tes| and nadawtny other iTfiilintrtgiMationi*
▼01.. iv. » Al
I
;-*»
/
['I
I ^
Jl '
r n
Mr.
Cbnfun^ ^ JKoie* faHt ir. book 'ir»
in abbot knU yeurt, Sbloinon and 2ayno«, two'of the judges^'
bein^ old and weirithv, petitionki ibr leave to retire. Th»
preiident alto was ordercu to repair to Europe, to-give an ac-
oaant of tlie affaini of New Spain. He waa then bishop of
St Domingo, having been formerly inquisitor in Seville. After
faik return to Spain, he was advanced successively to tKe
bishopricksof Toro, Leoni and Guen9a, with a»tonishing ra-
mdity, and was also made president of the royal chancery in
Valladolid. The good conduct of the oydor Maidonado waa
rewarded by the government of Guatimala, Honduras, and
Veraguai and the title of adelantado or lieutenant governor of
Yueutan. The other judge, Quiroga de Madrigal, obtained'
the bishoprick of Mechoacan. Siich were the rewards of thesi^
just judges I
~ His majes^ was pleased to appoitii Don Antonio de Men-
doza viceroy of New Spajn. This most ittustrious nobleman,
worthy of all praise, was brotlier to the Marquis of Montcjar.
Along with him there came out as oydors or judges of the
court of audience, the doctor Quesada, and the licentiates
Tgada de Logrono and Loaysa. 1 he latter was an old man
who staid only three or four years in Mexico, where he col-
lected a good deal of money, and then returned home to-
Spain. Santilana, an > iter licentiate came out at the same
time, q)pointed to succeed Maidonado an oydor when he
might vacate his office. All were excellent magistrates. On
opening their court, thev gave leave to every one to make ob-
jections against the conduct of their predecessors ; but which
was found on inquiry to have been perfectly right. When
tlw viceroy Mendoza arrived, as he knew that Uie licentiiite
Torre had orders to arrest Nuno de Guzman, he invited
him to Mexico, meaning to save him from in«ult, and gave
him apartments in the p:dace, where he was treated wiu all
vaapect. But Torre, who had orders to communicate his
oonunission to the viceroy, -not finding himself countenanced
in the strong measures be was inclined to pursue, and bi ing
naturally violent, arrested Guzman in the pakeo and carried
liim to the common prison, saying that he acted by royal
Aiitb(M^ty.. Guzman remained several days in custody, but
^as at kngth released at th ^ intercession ot the viceroy. The
Hcentiate was much addicted to cards, particularly at the games
fXtrittmphp andprimero, on which circumstance one of Guz-
mana inenda rplayed him 'the following trick to hold him up
to ridicid^. The civilians at that time- w«Nre gowns with loose
lb * hanging
#^
i
iHAP. r» siteT. kxiii. 6jf Hetmndo Cortex. ^0*?
banging ile«fct, into on« of which MMne wag contrived to
conTcy a pack of cards, wo that whoi Torre was walking »-
croM the great Muare of Mexico in company with leVtral per>
•otiii of quality, the cardi began to drop from his ileeve, kav^
ing a k>ng trail behind him as he walked along. On disco-
vering the trick, whitfh was heartily laughed at, he became very
much enraged i and either from vexation or the influence of
the climate, he died soon afkcr of a calenhire or burning fever^
by which the affair of Guzman was respited.
Cortes having now been long in Spain, advanced to the
disnity of marquis, captain-general of New Spain, and admi-
ral of the south sea, being anxious to revisit his estates in
New Spain, embarked with his family and twelve fathers of
the oraer of mercy. On his arrival at Vera Cruz, he wi^s by
no means so honourably received as formerly, and went from
thence to Mexico, to present his patents to the viceroy and
to take possession of his offices. Considerable difficulty oc-
curred in regard to the interpretation of the royal grant ot
towns and lands to the marquis, which I do not pretend to
understand. The grant, in mentioning the districts which
were granted to him, enumerated the vicinos or neighbours
who were considered as belonging to it and as constitutinff
bis vassals. Cortes insisted that the head person only of each
iamily was to be considered as the vicino or vassal ; but the
Doctor Quesada, who was deputed to allot his districts, con-
tended that every adult male in a family, master, son, servant,
or slave, was to be reckoned in the number of the vicinosi
The marquis was much disappointed by this interpretation,
as there were often twelve or fifteen of these in one household
or family, which would have prodigiously reduced his revenue,
and several lawsuits ensued in consequence. This matter was
r^wrtcd for his majesties determination, and continued for
several years in suspence, during which the marquis received
his full rents without hindrance : Uut finding the great dimi-
nution of his importance in the country which he had subdu-
ed, by the appointment of a viceroy, he retired to Quernava-
ca, where he established his residence, being on his oWn es-
tate, never returning to Mexico. While Marcos de Aguilar
held the government of New Spain, Cortes caused fbur ships
to be ittted out at Zacatula on the soutti sea, under the com-
mand of Alvarado de Saavedra, and provided with various
articles of merchandize, for a voyage to China and the Mo-
lucca or spice islands; He was fikewise dir^ted to look out
f.
306
Conquest of Mexico pamt ii. book ii» /
for A imuidron which hml sailed from I^Nun fur Chinft, oom-
numded by Don Garcia de Loavia, a commander of the order
of Si John at Rhodes *. While Saavedra was preparing for
Us ezpedhion, a vessel Ixslonging to the squadron of Loaysa
airriTed at Zacatula, from the piM>t and crew of which he ao*
quired ail the information he widied* Taking with him the
pilot and two sailors of this ship, Saavedra proceeded on hii .
voyage in Deeember 1527 or 15t8, and sustained many mis-
fortunes and hardships on the way to the Moluocaa. I do
not know the particulars of this voyage : But, about three
yeara afterwards, I met a sailor who had sailed in this expei>
ditimi, woo told me many strange thimrs respectins the eiues
and nations he had seen. I also heard that the FtEnrtuguese
had captured Saavedra and sevend of his people, whom they
had sent prisoners to Europe. After his return to New Spain
the marouis sent two ships, in May 1632, from Acapulco,
commanaed fay Diego Hurtado de Mendoia, to make dis-
coveriee in the sooth sea. One of bis shijps mutinied and re-
turned to New Spain» to the gpreat nurtification of Cimtes»
and Hiirtado wm never heavd of afterwards. After this»
Cortes sent out two other vessels, one commanded by DiMO
Becerra de Mendooa, and the other by Hernando de OrijaW
va. The first night after their departure from Tehaantepec,
th^ were separated in a gale of wind and never joined again^
Oryahra being well pleased to escape from under the com-
mand of Bezerra, who was of a haughty temper ; and besides*
Grijfilva was desirous to take the merit of any discoveries he
might make to himself. After sailing 200 leasnies, he came
to an uninhabited island, which he named St lliomas. Bes-
erra made himself so 6dious by his domineering disporftion^
that his pilot Ximenes entered into a plot for his assassina-
tion, which he carried into ef^t, and took the command of
the vesscL Continuing the vovaoe, he Asoovered an island
which he named Santa Cruz, whidi was inhabited by savages*
and where he set on shore two IVanciscan friars and se-
veral persons who had refused to join in the mutiny. Being
in want of water, he went at the same time on shore for that
purpose } but he and all who landed were put to death by the
savages
' ' 0 For the inforaudoii of tome retdert, it msv be praper to obMrvi^ that
the order of St Joha of Jerunktn, latdy luowa by tm name of thserder of
Malta* thea tended at ILhodss.— E.
mi ■ «
► -'• -^Mti^J^rt-fc™, :-.ty:^,t
.-M«jj^jif*v*v*jf*rw.s- ■
flUVk ▼.•KT. niii. % Hermmdo Ccrta.
809
■Mva^ williiii view of Ae Aip.
MinrHrors returiMd to New SkMin.
After tUi mufortune the
.The MarquU del VaUe wm w> much Texcd bj tbeie dii^
inpointment* that he iwohred to go fai penon upon diacovei^f,
with three shmt vAiidk he had ready for lanocbi^g at Tegti-
antepec. When the Spaniards learnt that he meant to em-
bark on a voyi^of discoverv, they thouaht that auooecs Wtis
Xiite certain, md great numbers resolvea to aoooni|Mny hin|.
bove 980 persons, including women, aSered their services,
as there were above ISO of them married men, who brouo^
their wims along with them. Leaving Teffuantcpec in ilsy
IBM or 1537* aooompanicd by Andres deTopia and sevovl
other officers, widi some ecclesiastics, physicians and surgeonSf
and as many colonists as the vessels coiud contain, he sailed
for the island of Santa Cruz, where he arrived after a pro^
perous voyaoe, and sent back the shim to bring over dw re-
mainder of the peofrfe ". The second voyMe was not so taf~
tunate, as they semunted in a oale of winaoear the river of
St Peter and St raul, oae onhf of the ships arriving |it the
ishmd of Santa Cruc, where the marquis anxiously eiqpected
them, as provisions were growing scarce. Oie or the oth^
vessds, wnich contained the provisions, was stranded on the
cofst of Xolisoo, whence must of the people returned to New
£||Nun. The other vessel came to a bf^ whidi the pK^ple
named Guayaval, from the quantity of gaa^avms which they
found there. During this time, the marquis and his peopw
were experiencing extreme distress on the uncultivated isund
of Santa Cruz, twenty-three of the soldiers dying of Amine,
and the rest sinking daily, and curskig his expeditions and
discoveries. Taking fifty soldiers with liim in me ship whi^
had arrived, he went in search of die other two ; and after
some considei-able search be found one «tranded, as already
mentioned, on the coast of Xalisoo, and abandoned by the
people, and met the other amonc some rocks. Having re-
paired these vessels, he brought them with a quantity of pro-
visions to Santa Cruz, where his fivnidied colonists eat ^
voraciously that half of them died. Anxious to quit this scene
of misery, the marquis embarked from Santa Cruz, and, coab>
tinning his project of dibcoveries, fell in with the land of C»>
lifomia, heartily tired of his fruitless pursuit, yet unwilling to
return
10 Santa Crue is a small island in the Veraulioa sea, on the eastern coast
«f California, m lat. 25 » S3' N. Ion. 1 10« 47 ' W. from Orecnwich.— E.
"*:
dio
Conquest of Mexico PART it. book if.
kv
return to New Spain without effectinff some important disco-
very. When the Marchioness del Viule had notice of the loM
df one'of the vessels, she became very apprehensive of her
husbands safety^ and fitted out two ships to so in search of
'the marquis and his unfortunate colonists. These sailed un-
der tlie command of Francisco de Uiloa, who carried Jettera
from the marchioness and the viceroy* requesting the return
of Cortes to New Spain. Ulloa had the good fortune to fail
in with Cortes, who suffered himself to be prevailed on, and
returned to New Spain by way of Acapulco, leaving Ulloa to
command the squadron. His return rejoiced the Spaniards,
who were always afraid the natives chiefs might revolt, wheik
tibt awed by his presence. The people whom he left in Cali-
fornia returned soon afterwards ; but whether they were «o
ordered by the government I know not.
After a few months, the Marquis fitted out other two ships,
'which he sent upon discovery under the command of Ulloa,
^^ho sailed from the port of Navidad in the month of June,
'but 1 forget the 'year. Ulloa had orders to explore the ^oast
of California, and to search for Hurtpdo, who had never been
heard of. After an absence of seven months, Ulloa returned
to Xalisco, without having effected any discovery of import-
ance; and was assassinated a few davs afterwards on shore
bv a soldier who bore him a grudge. Thus ended the project-
ea discoveries of the Marquis delValle, in which I have heard
him say that he expended above 300,000 crowns. He never
prospered after his first conquest of New Spain ; and his bad
fortune was ascribed to the curses of his companions, for hav-
' ing treated them so }11 in the distribution Of the property ac-
quired by their bravery. He now determined on going io
Spain, in order to solicit an allowance from his majesty for
^he cxpences he had been at in these voyages, as also to en-
deavour to end the dispute concerning the vassals of his estates
in New Spain, and to procure restitution of the property
which had been seized from him by Nuno de Guzman, who
'^as noF a prisoner in Castille.
'^ A^er the departure of the Marquis, the viceroy and court
'^'Of au(|ienpe sent a military force frotn Xalisco by land to the
north west, under the command of Francisco Vasquez Coro-
nudo, who married the beautiful and virtuoufi daughter of the
"treatmrer Estrada. Coronado left his government of Xalisco
^ iipdcr the pharge of an officer named Onate, and marched in-
0OK1I*
t disco*
theioM
of her
^arch of
iled nil-
id letter!
e return
ne to fall
on, and
Ulloato
,4|iiAr. V..8ICT. «xiiz. fy HemM^ Cortei.
■SU
alt, when
x in Cali-
y were ■©
two ships,
ofUlloa,
a of June,
: the boast
never been
ta returned
of import-
i on shore
he project-
have heard
He never
jnd his bad
[ns, forhav-
.roperty ac-
m g«Jng to
majesty for
1 also to en-
f his estates
le property
izman, who
ly and court
I land to the
[squez Coro-
L^ter of the
\t of Xalisco
[marched in-
to
.$Q the country named CdibolaV. or the Sejreti CHics} whisnce
, he sept « Franciscan MaXi naaed Marcos de Nica, to Mexico,
. to give, the viceroy an account of the country. He described
.it as consisting of fine plains, with great herds of cattle quite
, different from tho»e ot Europe ; having populous tow|is, in
, which tlie houses were of two stories with stairs. He also re-
, presented that it lay on the coast of the south sea, by means
. of which necessaries and reinforcements could be easily sent
. to the STpanish force. Accordingly, three ships were seiit for
that purpose, under the command of Hernando de <^burcp,
an omcer belonging to the household >of the viceroy. ^ ..;%>?
. In the year 1537, Don Pedro de Alvarado fitted bift'ra
great.armament of thirteen vessels from the portof ilcaxa//a I*
on the south sea, in consequence of a license from his maiee-
ty, in which he had a grant of certain rents and advantages
in such countries as he might' discover; that is to say^ in
.Cj^iaa and the Moluccas or l^ice islands. As the port where
ihis. armament was fitted out was above 2C0 leagues from Ve-
ra Cruz, whence all the iron and most other articles had to
. be carried by land, its cost might ea&ily have fitted out eiffh^
.such vessels from Okl ^ain. AU the wealth which ' Alva-
.xado brought from Peru '^ tc^ether with what he had got
from 'the mines in Guatimala, with tlie rents of his estates,
And rich presents from his friends and relations, were insuffi-
cient for his preparations on this occasion, although all the
merchandise was procured on credit. Great as was the ex-
pence of the ships, it was far exceeded by that of his anny,
consisting of 650 soldiers with their officers, and a number of
horses, as a good horse at that time cost SOO drowns. Alva-
rado sailed some time in the year 15S8 for the harbour of
. Navidad near the city of Purification ^ in the province of Xa-
lisco, or New Galicia, where he meant to take in water, and
. to embark, more soldiers. When the viceroy heard of this
. great armament, he liecame desirous to have a share in it,
. and went to Navidad to view the fleet, whence he and Ahra-
rado
1 1 This appears to be ithe country now called Cinaloa, or Culiacan. The
strange appellatioi^ of the jeven cities seems to have reference to that fimcicd
ancient SpSnish colony which hu been formerly spoken of in the introduc-
tion to the diKovery of Columbus.— E.
IS This name, which is not to be found in any map, is probably a mis-
. take for Zacatula, in lat. IS" N. on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, W.S.W.
from Mexico. -£.
IS The expedition of Alvarado to Peru will be related m the subsequent
diapter. Diaz merely gives this slight hint on the subject.— E«
fi
>
atf
.V\\'
CO
«A«t II. toMm.
Qiad»M^?miA to ICixido. ASMm^ wiihcd 16 hove tf reb-
,(tiita^ifiC bit, own mined Joan jHjpointed to hav6 the coibinuid
i«€ifaift^exp<iditioBi while the viceroy wm desirous tO'ba:ve an-
30tlpev officer, oamed VHIt^bos* joined in command with Juan
fiAlvarado. On h^s' return to the port of NavidacU and when
-jnst-ready to.<iiail« /Uvarado received a letter from Onate» who
'^iiadbeen lt:tit,ia. the cominand of- the province of XidlttcOt
j«amcstly entreating his immediate assistance, as hf and the
itettl«in«nt.were> threatened with destruction by the Indiitna
4kf Gochitkd. Alvarado» who was always aealoos in his ma-
. jestys lervioey n>archi<d imroediatelv with his troops to their
!X«li(f,and.foiradUiem in a most deq)erate situation. The
intau^penls xathar diminished in the violence of their attacks
-«|k the arrival of Alvando, bat hostilities were still continued j
ciM>id-aBeday».as Aivavado was following the enemy among
eoine rocky jnouataina, a soldier on horseback, who was at a
. connder^ble >hei|^t above him on the steep side <^ a mou^
tain» came roUiiM; down above him, horse and all, by wfaidi
;]iebifa8ciOjiBuchptvised, that soon after his removtf to Uie
.tann of Iha. Purification, he was aeiaed with fainting^ts, and
aalpupad in. a fnr iiays. On the news of Ahrarados death be-
.ifWiknown to lus fleet and army, many of the people return-
. cdifio their homes with what they had received. 1 he viceroy
■est off the licentiate Maldonado to prevent confusion as much
-as poBsiMe, whom ha followed soon after to tdce the charoe
-0f the ranaining soldiers, with whom he marchod against the
fawnigents, and after a tedious and difficult warfare of some
coPtiMMince, reduced them to submission.
- ; V The loM of Alvarado was severely felt in his familv, and
hi& memory was long held in high esteem through m New
Spain. . 0^ receiving the fatal intellif^ence in Ouatimala, the
worthy jfatt^p. Maroguin and all his clergv celebrated his
obseqpiies with much honour, and his major-domo caused the
vaUsof .his house to be painted blaek, which cdour has re-
mained, ever since. Many gentlemen waited on Donna Bea-
. triz de la Cueva, his lady, to console her for her loss. They
advised her to aive God thanks, since it was his will to take
her husband to nimself. Like a good Christian, she assent-
ed to rhia sentiment, yet said that she now wished to leave
this mehmcholy world and all its misfortunes. The historian
Oomara has ialsely said that she spoke blaspfaemously on this
. eccasion, saying that God ooukl now do her no more injury ;
and injuriously aiicribeB the suUe^uent misfortune whicb be-
,\..;€
A*
,\X^e
txiit <l[^HTmnKb€trfe^
<Onfiittu.
f I*
'5
"SIS
'tA to to theie wordt ivliich she did not utttt'. A deluge rd
mid and water bunt forth fram dus vdcano neur Onatimah,
' whklk overwheimed the home in which she wasprayinigaki^
' wHb her women^ Althooflfa Ahrarado and his fixv brotheti
had lerved his niajest^ with much zeal, no part of fak ptoper-
■tw descended ta hu children, and the whow family was peca-
- luurly unfibnrtanate. Don Pedro died, as 1 have already rdat-
edf by an unconHmm acddent in Cochidan, or CutfiKaiu
His brodier Jorge died in Madrid in 1^40, while soliddng
liis mf^sty for a recompeice of his fterrices. Gomes de A^
varado died in Peru. Gonzalo in Mexico or Oaxaca, I ani
^jtocertain which. Juan on his voyage to Cuba. The eliiest
iaoB of Don Pedro, white on a voyage along with his relation
' the younger Juan, to solicit a recoropence tor his fatfaMs ser-
vices, was lost at sea. Don Diego, the younger son, seeing
^ ^e fortunes of die lamily desperate, returned to Peru, where
he died in battle. Donna Beatrix *\ the huiy of Don Pedro,
with the female part of the family, were destroyed, as before
^related, fay a torrent from a volcano, <mcot' his daujg^rs on-
ly excepted, Donna Leonora, who was saved from the tor-
' r«it, and has caused two scfnildves to be built in the great
• church of Guatimala, to receive the bones of her relations.
"May our Lord Jesus take them all with him into glory I
: f About a year after the death of Don Pedro Alvarado, the
^viceroy s^tthe-bestof his ships under ViUalobos to make
»*^discoveries to the westwards of the Pacific Ocean ; but with
what success I never leamL No part of the expences of this
armanent were ever recovered by any of the descendants of
vf Alvarado.
'P As the Marquis del Valle was in SjMin at the tipie of the
^expedition against Ah^ers, he attended his majesty on that
i-ocearion, along with his legitimate son Don Martines, and
-Don Martin tne son he had by Donna Marina. The fleet
^ was diifwrsed in a storm, and the ship on board of which the
marquis had embarked was stranded, on which occasion he.
)i
14 la die sixth Mctkn of tbia chapter, h bat been already sseaiiaQed
..^^{Khu Pedro Alvarado was married to Dmmw JUrffathsdaoi^crof JQ-
\, , (»timcatUooe of the prmces or chiefs of Tlascala, tbrmwh «Aom M acquirci a
' '! mat inheritance^ and by whom be had a son Don FedN^ and a jdanriKsr
/, Donna Leonora, married to Don Francisco de la Catn, cousm to tbs Duks
., i«f Anmqusrqvc* bf «4iem she had foor or five sons. The widow of Don
f^i ftixo destroyed in Guatimala, setmi to hsvt been s second wi(Ci—B*
^#
i!mquest tf Mexico f AST <f. B9eK u*
i
]bis sons, and hig sult^^got on shore with much difficultgr. On
Ihia occasion he tied a quantity of rich jewels, which he used
.'to wear like other great lords ^/- no use, in a handkerchief
round bis anp, but they were all lost. On account of this
disaster to the fleet, the council of war was of opinion that
Xhe Wjie ought to be immediately raised. The marquis. w«s
hot called to this council ; but it has been, said that, if pre-
sent, he would have declared for continuing the siege, and if
he had been so fortunate as to command there such brave
soldiers as those who accompanied him to Mexico, he would
liavc entertained no doubt of success.
The marquLi was now grown old and worn out by long and
severe fiuigue, and was anxious to have returned to New
^pain, to settle his affairs: But he waited the celebration of
a marriage, between his eldest daughter Donna Maria and
Doi^ Alvaro Pintz Osorlo, son and heir to, the Marquis of
Abtorjja, and had agreed to give his daughter a fortune of
lOQyOOO ducats. He had sent to bring over his daughter
from Mexico, an^ had even gone himself to Seville to meet
h^r ; but the match was broke off,, as is said by the fault of
, X)c\n Aiyaro. iQortes was much disappointed at this, and ss
his health was already in a bad state, he declined so ri^pidly,
that he retired to£a«tileja dc la Cuesta, to attend to the cqid-
cerns of his soul, and to make his testament. Having ar*
ranged all his afliiirs, both for this and the next world, |& de-
parted this life on the 2d joi' December 15i7. He was buried
vith creat pump in the cbapcl of the dukes of Medina Sido-
xua i out, according to l^s wilt, his remains were pfterwards
. i^moved to Cojohuacan or Tczcuco in New Spain, I am un-
certain which. By his latter will, he left funds for the en-
dowment of an hospital in Mexico, and a nunnery in his own
town of Cojohuacan. In l£i9^ when we went alonff with
liiin from Cuba againiit Mexico, he used to tell us that he
was then thirty-four years pld j and as he died 28 years after-
wards, he must httve t^een eXftcUy 62 at his death. The arms
granted to him by his m^esty, when he was created a mar-
' qiiis, were the heads of seven kings surrounded by a chain,
implying; Montezuma, Cacamatzin, Guatimotzin, Tuiapa,
, CoadUyaca, and the princes of Tacuba and Cq^uacan.
The motto, as I have been told, was well adapted to a valiant
i^ warrior 4 but being in Latin, which I do not understand, I
•ay nothing oh that subject.
■ . The Marquis del Voue de Oaxaca, wai strong built, and
CHAT* ▼; BBCT. Xtiii. iff HetiulndoCortet,
m
of a good ftature, with a rather pale complexion and lerious
countenance. His features were rather sciaJQ, with mild and
Kve eyes. His hair and beard were bla^k and thin. His
ast and shoulders were broad> and his body thin. He
was weli^limbedi his le» beins somewha^t bent. He w,bs an
excellent horseman, and very dexterous in the use of arms $
and* he also had the heart and mind of valour, whidi is the
principal part of that business. I have heard that» when
Tottng, he was very wild about womeny and had several duels
in Hispaniola on that account with able swordsmen, in all of
-which he came off victorious: But he received a wound near
his under lip on one of these occauons, the scar of which
could be seen through his beard rhen closely examined, ht
his appearance, manners, behaviour, conversation, table, and
dress, every thing corresponded to a man of hiffh rank jandi
although his clothes always corresponded to the fashion of
the times, he was not fond of silks, damasks, or velvets ; but
wore every thing plain and handsome. Instead of large
chains of gold in which some delighted, he was satisfied with
a small chain of exquisite workmanship, to which was ap»
pended a gold medal of the Virgin and child Jesus, with a
Latin motto, and on the reverse St John the Baptist and
another motto. On his finger he wore a very fine diamond
rinff { and in his cap, which was of velvet, he bore a gold
mraaly the head and motto of which I have forgot : But, in
his laUer days, he wore a plain cloth cap without ornament.
His table was always magnificently served and attended)
having four major-domos or principal officers, with, many
pages, and a great quantity of massy plate both of gold and
silver. He dined heartily about mid-day* drinking only a«-
bout half a pint of wine mixed with wateri He was not nice
or expensive in his food, except on particular occasions,
where he saw it to be proper. He wis exceedingly affable
with all his captains and soldiers, especially those wno ac^oin*
panied him at first from Cuba j yet practiced the strictest at-
tention to military discipline, constantly going the rounds
himself in the night, and visiting the quarters of the soldiers,
severely reprehending all whom he found without their ar-
mour or appointments, and not ready' to turn out at a mo-
ments warning, saying, " It is a bad sheep th^ cannot carry
its own wool." He was a Latin scholar, and as I have been
told, a bachelor of laws, a good, rhetorician, and something
even of a poet. He was very devote to" the Holy Virgin,
and
W
1(
m
.Vi'
CottfueU tf 3ianeo met n. book ii.
-J
ind to ^ ft^f SiJ$mek, and St John tltt Btaptiit. Hb
^th was, ** By iby comdtnceb*^ ". When angry willi any of
liis, friends^ he used to wy^ **^ nwy.yoa iqlent tt )** and when
in flnreat warmth^ the vdm of bii. throat and foMliahd ;iiied to
twSmuch; but he then never qwke.' Hi was veiy patient
S' der inii^ or injiuice, at the lokiicn were KMnetimea very
ie an4 aboswe i yet ho never ivaented their conduct, onfy
^yi|)g> '* Be ulent, 'Ofi ** Go inCkida nanie« and donotre-
1^ m» or I shall have vou panished." In all/ mattera of
vrar« he wM exceedingly hea&trong and dctermittad, never
'i|iff to remomtrancea on acoonnt ^danger ( one in^
<» which wiis in the attack of tbe fertresaes called thb
qfthe Mofrquit^ which he forced us to dimbf cdntrary
-all Our opinions} where courage, counsel, or wisdom, could
l^ve no rational hc^ of sueoess. Another instance was in hia
obstinacy respecthig the expedition against De Oli i in which
lirep^itedly woed him to ^ by way of the mountains, wher&>
as he obstinatefy persisted m going by the coast. Had he
taken my adyice„ \m would have found towns the whole wj^.
'M^teve we had to erect any fortress or entr^ichment, he was
iilWaJni, the hardest labourer; when we advanced to battle^ he
^ always in the 4ront
',' Cortes was fond of play^ both at cards and dice^ at whidi
lie was always good-humoured and affaUe, often using the
buA terms customary on these occasions. Durin|^ our cx-
pc^thm to HigUerns, I observed that he had acquured a. ha-
bit of ti|king a short deep or $ie$ta after eating i and if he
could not get this he was apt to become side. On tiiis ac-
count, let the rain be ever so heavy, or the sun ever so hot,
he always reposed a short while on a t\oak or carpet under a
tree j ^d after a short eleep, mounted, hia horse and pro-
ceed on his march. Whoi. engaged, in the conquest of
New j^mui, he was very thin and i^nderi but aA«r his re-
turn fr«im Higueras, he became fiit and corpulent. His
brard b^jMi at that time to grow grey, after which he trim-
med it in die short fiuhion. In his early Ii&^ he was .very li-
bond, but grew close afterwards, insomuch ^at some of his
servants complained that he did not pay them pnmerhr. I
bnve already observed that he never succeeded m his latter
undertakings: Perhaps such was the will of Heaven, whieh
reserved his reward ibr a better world i fiar lie was a good
gendeman and very devout. Ood pardon him his sins, and
me
cHAV. ▼• HBCT, ixxif. Ijf Hmumdo Cortes,
317
nie iliine» and give me a gpod eod, wUck li better than aU
ootupanla or TMloriet over Indians I Amen.
Dettettdantt of Htnumdo Cortes ".
t'
The le«timaCe, children ofCortci were»Don Martin, who
sacceedea him as marquis } Donna Maria, who married the
CkMide de Luna of Leon { Donna Juanna, who married Don
Hernando Enriquez. hme to the Marqn^ of Tarrifia % Donna
Ooalina, who cned in Seville i and Donna Leonora, who
raarrfediin Meidco, Juanes de Tdoea, a rich Biscayai^ vd|i^
alUaneo gave great oflfenoe to the yovng maiiqpns. H9 M^
also two natural^feiiat Don Martin by Donna Marina ; and
Don Lius by a lady named De Hermosiflpi 1 bath of whaao^
were :^cimmukdet8 of the order of St Jago. ' Beudci thesa^
he had three natural daughters 1 one by an hidian woman of
CkAm- And two othem by aMexican wonnm: Ha left great
fcttones to aa ihese ladies. ■_^
Dbli Hemarido Gortes, conqueror^ govwnor, and capta&n*
general of New Spain* admiral of the South Seas,j^ Mar^
31ns of the Vallqr oS Oaxaca, had in second marri^, Domia
eroma Ramirea de Arellano y Zunu[a, daughter of Don
Carloa Ramirai de Arellano, second Omd^ de AguiUur, and
of> Drana.Jaroma de ZmUga, daughter bf the jGr^ Duke c€
Bijar. Their son was,
1. Don Martines Cortes de Ramhrez y Arellano, seeeni
Marqub crfdie Valley, ihanied his ooiain, Donna AnMi Rap
mirez de Arellano. Thdr issue was,
IL Don Hernando Cortes de Ramfareaye Ar^ano, Hird
Marquis of the Valkty ; married Dmma Muroia HeiQaades
de Cabrera y Mendoaa, daughter of Don Pedro Henumdea
de Cabrera y BovadiUi, s^md Coiide de Chindion, and
Donna Maria de Mendooa y Cerda, sister to the Frinoe ot
Mdito. Don Hernando had bnt one son, who died in dill^
hood, and was therefinre succeeded by his Inrotha',
IS TUs extended account ofthedeKCBduttof CortM, b adopted fireae
Cla*i|ero» I. 448. Tbe fint perigiiah, • wlich - eauweratei the ywingee
chUdmo(Ftkcaurqiue»aiulb«aatmuchUdt«a,enfi(^ There it
a.diAraace between tlieie authon in tke nane of tne marchioneM, whom
Diaz namcfl Donna ^^mmmi, and Clavigero JtrmiM: The iigrmer lilcwlie
aanet the dd<M aoa of Cartel Afarltn, and the lstterAf«rfJMSr->B*
\
■;":"»»«*i^«M>ti...>,y
m
Qonqunt i^Hexiio * tk%t it* BOOK ff*
8 Don Pedro Gorta, &e. fomih Marmili of the Vidlev^
who marned Donna Anna Paeheeo de la Cerda, lUterof tacr
second Conde de M ontalban : But leaving no issue was suc-
ceeded by his sister,
S. Donna Jeroma Cortes, kjcjiflh Marchioness of the
Vallev, «fho married Don Pedro QiriHo de Mendosa, frintk
Conde de Priego, captain-general of Serille, and grand ma-
jor^omo to Queen Ma^fl|alM of Aamtik Their <mly daugh-
ter, who carried on the &ie Of the flmfHy, was,
III. Donna Stqihania CarlDo de Mendoaa y Cortes, ntitk
Marchioness of the DUIey, who married Don EKegO de Ar-
mgpntjburth Dtike of Terra Nova, prince of CasterVetranOf
ailiol of ^ hdjy Roman empire. Marquis of Avola and Eav^«
ra, constabte and admiral or Sicily, commander of Villa Fran«
ca, viceroy of Sardinia, kn^ht of the golden fleece. Their
onhr daughter was, . - ! > . <.f
■ IV4 {)onna Juana de Arragon, fix. fifth Duchess of Terra
Nova, M«enM Marchioness of the Valley, &c. who married
Don Hector Pignatelli, Duke of Monteltone, prince of Noja«
&c. Their onk-^ son was, ?t
V. Don Andrea Fabriiio Pignatelli, &c. duke of Mc^nte^
Hone and Terra Nova, &c eighth Marquis of the Vidleyj
who married Donna Teresa Plmentel y Benavides, &c Their
daughter was,
VI. Donna J. Pignatelli, &c. Duchess of Montelione and
Terra Nova, m'nM M&rcbionesa of the Valieyv&c. whojihar*
ried Don Nicolas Pignatelli, viceroy of Sardinia abd Sicily^
Ice. ThcJrsdnWAsj
VII. Don Diego Pignatelli, &o. duke of <Montdione and
Terra Nova, tenth Marquis of the Valley, &c. I^s son was^
VIII. Dop'Fabrizio Pignatelli, &c. Dnke of Montelione
and Terra Nova, eleventh Marquis of the Valtey, &c. His
ton was, >
IX. Don Hector Pigniktelli, &c. Duke of MonteKone and
Terra Nova, twelfth Marquis of the Valley, ffrandee of Spain,
prince of theholvRoman empire, at present living in Naples^^^
and married to I)onna N. Piccdomini, of theiamily of the
Dukes of Amalfi.
From
16 This refers to the ptnoH ^^^n Clavigero composed his History, df
Mexico, about thft year 1 780 ; according to Humboldt, the dukes of Mmte-
lione retained the vast ctutei af Corta m Mexico within the presem cea-
'tury.— E*
■"***• .Xiltifliii'
}om tit
of the
aituo-
of the
f nitttk
dftttgh-
>s, siitth
de Ar*
dF«v<^'
UFran-
Their
• .-»■■
of Terra
married
ofDoja,
* Hibnte-
VaUeyi
cc Thck
ibne'aMid
who jbasf*
id Sicily
ione and
■on waai
ontelionc
His
OHAK Y. JicT. ibtiT. ^ Hemattdo Ciiiet,
i\9
me
I of Spain,
|ly of the
From
lof Mwte*
cett-
Flroin tk 4.ub1e coiitple itienttoned in the Vf. step of the
fetegoirtg deduction, beiidet Don DiegO, whtf eanriea on their
line^ there were thcee other ions and three dauf^htera: 1.
Don Diego, aa above. 2. Don Ferdinand. S. Don Anto^
nio. 4. Don Fi^izio. 5. Donna Rota. 6. DonBi[( Maria
Teresa. 7* Donna Stephunia '\ '^
Section XXIV.
Concluding Observations bj/ the AutHor ^
Having ennmerated the tddierfe ^rho passed from Cuhir
along with Gortes, to the conqivcst of New iSpain, I Have to
olwerve that we were for the most part hidalgos, or gentle-
men, though fiome were not of such clear lineage as others \
but, whatever may have been the dignity of our birth, we
made ourselves much more iHustrious by oar heroic actioni
in the conquest of this country, at our own sole cost, withotit
any aid or support, save that of our Lord and SaVipur Jesus
Christ. In tne ancient history of out own countrv, many
cavaliers rose to dignity and honours by valiant and faithful
services to their kings \ and though tlicy did not go into the
field as we did, without pay, they were rewarded with lands^
houses, castles, dignities, and privil«^s', tb tAcm and their
heirs in ()erpetuity. Also, when his mnjestv Don Jayme^^
won certain parts of his kingdom from the Moors, he made
grants of these to the cavaliers who assisted him in- the con*
quest, from which period their descendants dcive their estates,
honours, and blazons. Those -also who served under the
Great Captain and the Prince of Orange were rewarded inr
like manner. I have recalled the recollection of these things,
that the world mey consider and determine whether we, who
gained this great country by ovr valour^ even without the
knowleilg^
17 This gentakgL-al fraction has been somewhat abrideed, as to the
muhipliuicy of high sounding titks, and minute particulars of marri»;es aail
iK>lr'9 cnane^tions. altogether unmterettiog to the English read«r.-^£. „ .
1 la this section Diaz gives a minute enumeration of the vtdiant ctmfa*
niomviho puised ever to the conquest o/ Mexico ivith the mojt adventtirotis
und'fHoit fnegntuUmmu Don Hernando CoMej, Marquu ef the Faliey. Thie
mutt assuredly be a moft vahiable dwument to vast numbers of the ptcaoit
inhabitants of New Spain, by enabling them to trace their honourable descent
from the conquerors ; bitt, as totally uninteresting to the English reader, i%
here omitted.-^E.
**i«ijj«
I
'\
f=
980 CmtHniqfMUmco rA^T it, mqri|..
iQHMirfadfe of bit uujinty, an not m worthy of mmJi viwifdo
•ttd honours at tlwM cavalierr abovo-iMiitioMdf bv ow aood»
notable, and loyal senrion to God, the king, and all Chn«tiB-
4oB0.
I bavt plaoad myself Init in the list, bavii^ baan twica in
this ooanti7 before tlie coming of Cortes, aiul the third timf
along with him { and, as among those whom I have enume-
rated, there were many valiant captains, so I was held in no
inoMisiderable estimation in my day as a soldier. Besides
the many battles and dangers in which I participated since
1 came into this country, and the. diitrenes, oy hunger,
thirst, fittigue and wounds, incident to aQ who undertake dis-
E'es and wars in unknown countries, I was twice in the
of the enemy, who were carrying roe off for sacrifice :
hanks and praise to Ood and his holy Virgin Mother,
who gave me force to escape from their grasp, uat I might
now relate and make manifest our heroic deeds in the con-
qaestof this new »orU, and thereby to prevent all the honour
and liaerit from being unjustly ascribed to pur general alone.
|t is now proper that I should make some observations ,on
Aa good erots produced by our exertions and jlhistrioua
eonquesti, to the sorvioe of Ood and our kin^, in which many
of our eoropanions lost their lives, being sacnfioed to the gods
or idols of the Mexicans, Huitzilopochtii and Teicatlipoca.
In the first place, we purged the land of many wicked cus-
toms, and in particular trom human sacrifices. By estimatea
made by the reverend Franciscan friars, who succeeded Fra
Bartholomew de (Mmedo, it appears that above 2500 human
vicUms were sacrificed yearly in Mexico and some adjacent
towns on the lake ; so tnat the number annually put to death
in the whole country must have been very great. Their va-
rious other horrible practices exceed my powers of description.
Their cursed adoratories were exceediugly nuuKWous, like
our holv churches, hermitages, and chapels, in )^in, aa
they had everywhere houses dedicated to idols, devils, and
ipfemal figures. Besides which, every individual native had
two altars, one bende the place where he or she slept, and
another at the door of the house, with chests containing large
«»r snudl idoh and stone knives, and books made of the baric
of trees containing the record of past times. Eqpecjjally on
the coast and other suknr parts of the country, they were ad-
ditrted to the most abominaUe vices, where they had bovs in
female attire^ They fed on human flesh, as we do on beef,
^ . _._ having
cVAJh r. ncT. szir. I|y Htmattdc CMIei.
$91
havioff wooden cages in ererj towh^ in wUdi inoit watamt
and cEildren, wen kept and fed for that pnrpoMi to whidi
all the prisoners taken in war were destined* Incest wae
common amonodiemf and they were extremely addicted to
drunkenness. They had as many wives as they pleased.
From these and many other aboikiinations, it was the will of
Ood that we should be the humble instrunients to dear the
Und ) substituting a good policy and the hdy doctrine of Je^
sus Christ ^n their place. It is true that, two ^ears afters
wards, when the country was suljuoated and civilised, certain
worthy Franciscans of oood exom^e and holy doctrine came
here, who were fuUowefil in three or four years by fathers of
the order of St Dominic, who completed what others had be^
gun. But the honour of having destroyed the abomination!;
of the land, assuredly betongs to us the true conquerors* whc^
opened the way for these hwy &thers. . '«>
By the will of iQod, and the sacred Christianity of the em^
5)eror Don Carlos of glorious memory, and our present most
brtunate sovereign the invincible Don Philip, all the natives
of this great country have been baptised to the salvation of
their souls, formerly sunk and lost in the bottomless pit. We
have many fathers of the different orders, who oo about preach-
ingand baptizing, l)y which means the knowkdge of the ho-
ly Evangile is firmly planted in the hearts of the natives, who
confess yearly, and those who have sufficient knowledge in
the faith, participate in the holy eucharist. The chiurches
and their altars are richly adorned with all requisites for holy
worship ; as crosses, candlesticks, wax-candles, chalices, cups#
plates, and vessels for incense, all of silver. The ornaments
of the altars and crosses are of velvet, and damask, and other
rich materials, of various colours and mloidid workmanshipi
adorned with embroidery of sold, suk and pearls. Each
town has its bells acoofdinv to its ability^ Hie chiqpels have
choirs of good voices which sing in concert, tenors, trebles*
and counter-tenors. In some maces there are organs } but
most have utes, sackbnts, dulcimers, and boss and treUe
trun^iets. This one provihce of GUatirtiala has more than
my native county, old CastiUe. It is edifying and wonderfid
to see the devotion of the natives at the holy mass, especially
when performed by the fathers of the orders c^ St Frauds
and or Mercy, who have the cures of the parishes. All the
natives, men, women, and children, are tauj^t the holy
prayers in tbtir 9wn tongue ; and always on passing a cross*
VOL. IV. X crucifix*
>.---'
Ml
Omqtutt qfMtMteo WAKt ii* book ii«
•ro^ix, or akar, they fbU on thdr knen npoating a pata'
noitkr or aa «w Maria, We, the conqueroni taught them
to bum wax eandlMi before the holjr ahari and cruM^fi, and
to bdiave vetpectfiiUy to the reverend Itithen, going out to
meet them when they came to the towns, with lignted candlcf*
ringing of belb» ana providing them abundanUy with provi-
sions. On Lady Day and Corpus Christi, and other solemn
fiMtsofChediurpby when we make processions, most of the
natives of this d^ of Oualimala go likewise in procession,
with crosses and li^^ted caudles, bearing the images of their
patron saints aa ridiiy dressed as they can afford, and sii^(-
ing litanies and other holy prayers to the sound ot flutes and
trumpets.
The natives also of these countries have learnt all the trades
used among us in i^io* having their shops, manufiustories,
and work-people. Their goldsmiths and silversmiths, both
those who muce cast work or who use the hammer, are excel'
lent. Their hipidaries or engravers on precious stones, espe-
eidly emeralds, execute the nicest representations of the holy
acts and passion of our blessed Saviour, in such a maimer as
could not be beUeved from Indians. Three of our native
Mexican artists, named Andres tie Aquino, Juan de la Crua,
and £1 CrispMk>, have in my humble judoment executed paint-
ings which may vie with those of ApcTles, Midiacl Angelo,
tana Bemiguete. The sons of the chiefs used to be educated
in grammar, and were learning very well, till this was prohi-
bited hf the holy synod, under an order of the most reverend
the archbishop of Mexico. Many of the natives axe nuuue
fttotuvers of suks and various other stuft, and hatters, and
soap-boUers. Two trades only could never be acquired by
than, which is the art of glass blowing, and that or the apof
thecary $ but this is not owing to any ocfect of natural genuis,
as there are amoMr them surgeons, herbalists, jugglers, makers
c^poppetSi and c? violins. Tb^ cultivated die ground beforf
our arrifval i and now they rear stodc, break in bullocks to the
pfoagh, sow, reap, manure, and make bread and biscuit,
lli^ have phnted their lands with tho various fruits of old
Spain, such as quii^o^ apple, and pear trees, which they hcdd
in high estimation ) but cut down the unwholesome peach
trees and the evinrsbading plantains. IVom us they have
learnt laws and justioe ; and they every year elect thdr oarn
alcddes, regidors, notaries, alguaiils, nscakr, andmajor.do-
mos.
- 41
CMAV. Y. UCT. XXIT. ^ HmuHub Cuiiti
m
llMjr have their cubUdoit or oommon cduncili, and
bailiffs, which maet twice a-wevk, judging* ivnteQcfaig, and
punishing for Nnaller (^ncw i but for murder and' bi|^Mr
crimett they muet have recoune to the Spanish govemort in
placet where there are no courts of royal audienoe. In l^las-
cala, Tczcuco, ChohUa, Ouaxocinco, Tepeaca» and other
kurge cities, ^ilt mace« are borne befiire the natiVe nuwistratca
when they go to hold their cabildos, as is done berore our
viceroys } and they distribute justice with much Mai and im-
partiality, being anxious to acquire a thorough knowledge of
our laws. All the caoiques are rich, and ride on horses
handsonad;^ caparisoned, attended by pages. In some town-
ships likewise, they exercise with the lance on horseback* run-
ning at the ring ; and they have bull feasts, especially on the
days of Corpus Christi, £(t John, St James, the Assaroption»
or the patron or patroness saint of the town. Many of thenx
are excellent horsemen, and the natives Moecially of Chiapa,
de los Indios, will face the fiercest bull. The caciques br^
horses, and use them and mules for conveying their various
oonnodities dor sale, such s" maize, wood or lime ; and many
of the natives gain their living by foOowing the occupation of
carriers.
Bv means of our illustrious services, our mother-country
obtains gold, tilver, precious stroes, cochineal, wool, salsap»-
riik, hidiss, and various other commodities, to the great ad-
vaoti^ of the royal revenue. Since the time of tne great
aad wtsf Solomon, neither ancient nor modem histoiy recor4
the sMouisition of such riches by any country, as have been
dMired frmn New Spain. I do not now include the millions
in gdd and silver derived from Peru, as that country was un^
known when we conquered New SptAn, and was not conquer^
ed till ten years amrwvrds: Beiides all which, Peru hai
been involved in cruel civil wars, whereas we have ever re>
mained submissive in our allegiance to his mi^esty, and ready
to devote our lives and fortuneb to his service. The nui-
meroua cities in New S^win are worthy of consideratioUf but
would be too tedious to enumerate. Besides the ardibishop-
ridc of Mocieo, we have ten bishoprickf* with many oathedraua
and monastries banging to the D(Nninicanft» FVaodscana,
Au|^uatines, and the order of Metoy. Mmy Impitals, with
extensive
9 Theie are the ordinsiy QMUiicipal officer* of Spaauh tawiubiga, <u>rw«i'-
•M^ to o^r mayow, aldermen, bailifft, coiuaUes, &c.'—£. .^''4''
S8i Conquest of Mexico ' part ii. uook lU
extenuvo^remwMoni and pardons attached to them i besides
the Smnt^casa of our Lady of Ouadaloupe, where many holy
miracles are performed daily. In Mexico there is an university
in which arc tauaht grammar, theolo^^y, rhetoric, logic, phi-
losophy, and other sciences t and in which the students take
the several degrees of bachelor, licentiate, and doctor { having
also a printing press for books in the Spanish and Latin Ian-
ffuages. If ulTl have now said be insufficient, let the wise and
learned read over this my true history with impartial care,
and they must, confess that there never were men who have
ffoincd more by their valorous atchievemente for their king
than we the brave conquerors, among the moMt valiant of
vrhom I was considered. And I say again, I myself, who am
a troe conqueror, am the most ancient of all. Of the 580
soldiers who letl Cu\)a along wUh Cortc8,^W onl^ are now liv-
ing in the year 1568, while I am writing this history ; all the
rest having been blain in the wars, or sacrificed to the accursed
idols, or have died in the course of nature. Of ISOO soldiers
who came with Narvaez, ei. elusive of mariners, not more than
ten or eleven now survive. Of those who came with Oaray, in-
cluding the three companies which landed at St Juan de Ulua
previous to his own arrival, amounting to 1200 soldiers, moat
were sacrificed and devoured in the province of Panuco. We
five companitms of Cortes who yet survive, are all very old
and bowed down with infirmities, and extremely poor; hav-
iiut heavy charges of sons to establish, daughters to marry
of^ and grand-children to maintain, with very small means to
do all this. Whereas we ought to have had the best propeirties
in the country allotted to us, in reward of our high prowess and
transcendent services in that country which we conquered ;
not indeed to the same extent with the rewards granted to
Cortes, but in just moderation in proportion to our merits.
This indeed was ordered by his majesty, but interest and par*
tiaiity gave away what we ought to have received to Others,
leaving little for the royal patrimony cr to be bestowed on us.
ImiiUHliately after the conquest, Cortes ought to have divided
the whole country into five shares, assigning the richest and
best to his majesty, out of which to reward those cavaliers
who served liim in his European wars } taking a share and a
half to himself, . and for the establishment or churches, mo-
nasteries, and municipalities ; and dividing the remaining half
in perpetual grants to us the true conquerors, by which we
should have wl been amply provided for.
^^:~», -, -^-.s^.,*^.
. BOOK 11.
taAF. T. ■BCT. XXIV. bjf Hermttdo Cortet. 325
riiOur emperor wan so truly a Cbriitian monarchi that he
would wUlhigly have granted ui thc»e favours, more e^peda\'
}y at the oonauest cost him nothing. But we knew not then
where to apply for justice, except to Cortes himself, Virho did
in all things as he thought fit, taking care of himsdf, and of
his friends and relations newly come from old S^ain. Wc
remained therefoire wiih the little which had been assigned to
mt till wo saw Don Francisco de Montcjo, who !iad waited on
his majesty i^ Europe, roturn with the appointment of adclan-
tado and governor of Yucutan, estates m Mexico, and other
rewards. Diego de Ordas also, wIjo went to court, obtained u
commandery of St Jago, and districU in New Spain. Don Pe-
dro de Alvarado, who likewise went to riepresent his serWces,
was made adekntado and governor of Guatiiiuda arid Chlapa,
commander of the order of St Jogo, and obtained extensive
grants of laud. When therefore, we the conquerors saw (hat
those who did nut reach his majesty, or had no one to spieak
for them, were neglected, we transmitted a petition, by which
we prayed that such lands as fell vacant miaht be distributed
among us in perpetuities, as had been done l>y the first court
of roval audience, of which Nuno de Guzman was presidciit ;
who had been directed to make the divisions more equal, de-
ducting in due propoitions from the immoderate srants of
Cortes, and that the best districts and rents should oe divid-
ed among us the true conquerors, leaving the cities and great
towns for his maiesty. His nuyesty likewise ordered the vas-
sals of Cortes to dc counted, leaving no more than were spe-
cified in his patents j but I do not remember what was to
have been done with the suiplus. Nuno de Gvdikah^and the
judges of his tribunal were misled by advisers from ii^^ng their
grants perpetual, under pretence that the conquerors would
cease to depend upon and respect them if independent, and
that it was oettet to keep them under the necessity of suppli- ,
eating for subsistence, and likewise to preserve to themselves
the power of dividing the conquered lands to the advantage
of their own interest. Guzmian and his oydors indera,
constantly assigned such districts as fell vacant among
the conquerofi^ and colonists to universal satisfaction; but
were superseded in consequence of their dilutes with
^Cortes.
. In 1550, when I was in Old Spain, a council was formed, .
consisting of B^holemew de las Cases, bishop of Chiapa,
Va/ico de Quiroga, bishop of Mechoacan, find^other cavaliers
S$6
Cdn^st of Mexico
FAAT II. BO0K a.
wbo had ttittie as aoents firom New Spain and Peru, "virich
some ffentleitteh who nad come on business to comt ) to whidi
oouncu i abo was called, as bdrig the most andbnt of th6
conquerors of New Spain. At this time certain tif the Peru-
vian getatianeb petitioned his majesty to cause Tjerpetual at
lotmenfs of lands to be made iu that Kingdom, and a sitnilat
Cition was presenttei by Oonzalo Lopez and Alonzo de Vil-
ueva, who had come over as agents from Mexico. His
miuestv was pleased -o order the rajiartimietao or distributioti
of lands to be referred to the council of the Indies^ consistin|;
of the Mut)uis de Mondejar president, with the licentiates
Outierre Velasouez, Tello de Sandoval, Oregorio Lopes de
Briviesca, and tn^ Doctor Hernan Perez de laTuente, oydors
pr judges of that court, together with the members 6f other
royal councils. At this meeting, it was proposed to make a
perpetual distribution of the lands of New Spain and Peru j
I am uncertain if New Granada and Popayan were to have
been included. Many exceUent reasons were given for this
meaisurc being adopted, but it was strenuously oppdsed by the
members of tHe royal council of the Indies, together with
Bishop de las Casas, Fra Rodrigo his coadjutor, and the Bi-
shop of las Chartas, who insisted that the matter should be
postponed till the return of th6 emperor from Vienna, when
every thing should be arrangecl'to the satisfaction of tiie con-
gucrors: And thus the affiiir was dropped for the present
After my return to New Spain, the conquerors then pro-
posed to send agehts to solicit his majesty for our interest ex-
clusively^'in consequence of Which 1 was Written to here in
Guatini^aA by Captain Andres de Tapia, Pedro Morcna db
Medirana, and Juan Limp^as Caravajal, on the subject. I ac-
cordingly went round among the other conquerors who were
settl^ in tlus city, to raise a sum by subscription for the pur-
pose, biit this i^roject tailed for want of mon^. At a suDse-
quent period, our present invincible king Don Philip, was
pleased to comihana that the conqu6rors and their jposterity
should be provided for, attending in the first instance to thosb
who were married. But all has been of no avail.
Two learned licentiates, to wh()m I coriimuiiicated thh
MS. of this histohr, observed that I had praised myself great-
ly in the battles of which I have given an account, where^ I
ought to have left tlfat to be done by others. ' But how is
arty one Who was hot in th6 wars with us to ^raite us as we
d^^rve i To compare myself, a pdor soldier^ with the gre&t
" - ' emperor
dfiAiP. % sect. Xkiv. 1^ Hernando Gortes.
827
emperor arid wdrrior ilttUtift Ceut^ wb are tbidl^ hiatorianii
that he iiMd to write down with his 'tt#ii hand ah aooomit of
his o«Mt heroic deeds, ndl chwii^ :li> entrust that office to
others, ahhough he had mahy hiito^ittM in hii emqinrek It
is not therefore extraordinary if I rdate the battlto in whidi
I fought, that it may be khown in ftiture Ags», ihus did Ber*
wd Diais^l Caitilh ; that my sons and ffrandsons teaj ei^^oy
the fame of their ancestor, ab many cavalierli and lords of va»>
feals do the deeds and bltKtoh? of thfeirpifedeectoorai ll^aH
therefore enumerate the various battles and other wariil|e.a&
fairs in which I have been present At Cape Cotoche, under
Cordova ; at Pontonchan in a battle where half our number
was ^lain ; and in Florida where we landed to procure water.
Under Juan de Orijalva, I was present in the second battle
of Pontonchan. During my third voyage, under Cortes, two
pitched battles at Tabawo. On our arrival in New Spain,
the battle of Cingapadnga or iVoMzinco. Shortly after-
wards three pitched oattles with the Tlascalans. The afiair
6( Cholula. On dm- entry into Mexico^ I was at thensemoBe
of Mdntezuma, which I do notetltittierateas aiwarltke-eacirfoit,
but on account of its great boldiiesso Fcon* months after-
ward's, when with 276 men, Cortes defeated Narvfieft who
had ISOO. The relief of Alvarado, when the Mexicans
made incessant attacks Upbn us during eight days and nights,
during which I reckon eight several batUes, at all of which I
was present, and in the bourse of which we lost ^?d men.
The battle of Obtumba or Otompan. A battle at Tepeica.
A battle at Tezcuco. Two battles, in one of which I was
wounded in the thrdat by a lance. Two actions about the
maize fidds near Chatco. The rash littaxik on the fortresses
called the Rocks of the Martpiis in our expeditkiD romid die
lake. The battle of Cuemavaca. Three battles at Xochi-
mifco. Duringthe siege of Mexico, ^A'hieh lasted mnety-4kree
days, I find by my account that I wai engaged in upwardc
of eighty battles «id skirmishesi After the conquest, I was
isent out on Irarious expeditions to reduce Coataacnako,
ChiapB, and the Zapotecaris, in which we had several o^aae-
tatHHM. In Chamwa ahd Cuithm, two engagements. In
TWpa aftd Chetnatlsin two others, in one of which I was
badly wounded in ^e throat. I forgot to mentbn, that we
w«t« pursued for nine days in oUr f^ht from Mexico, and
had to fight four batdes before the great one at Otompcm.
Several acticms ia our expedition to Higueras and Hondu-
ras}
4
tn
Conquest^ P€ht ^Anv^»900^it}
itu, during which in « bttUe at Culacottt I had a hone kiUed
under me which oo6t 600 crown*. After my return to Mfxi-
co» Ji went upon an cqpeditijW into the mowtaini against
the Zapotecai and Mixtecaa* I have on the whole been pre*
ieatiaotukimtfrettandnineteen battles, engaoements^ andskirr
mishes } so that it is not wmideriRil if I praise mysdf fi>r the
inany and notaUe serrioes frhich I have rendered to (Qo«i, his
majesty and all Christendom : And I give thanks and praiiQ
to the Lord Jesus Christ, who hath preserved me in si mtmy
^bmgen.
rii > fHE <«Np OV BEKNAL nzlZ.-
Jp}. ■ ■ : : ,...:,•
dy< ■ — «' ■/ : , •
^mii ^iniH{^> .o-x^M'.. CHAPTER VL
fntroRT or THESDZtcovfRy. ako concurst of pekv, by
.."FlUMasCO »1ZAKB0, WRITTEN BY AUOU8TINO Z ABATE,
-nt:. TRBASURBR OT THAT KIHODOM, A FEW YEARS AFTER TH|i
Oi': GONeVBST.'' ■„
mi ':/j]-. ....'.. ;. ■ . , ■'■ ■ , • sii
-♦i9fiVifrJ»ff». W^fifj' !. . INTROOyCTION. -4
THE present chapter, like tl^at immerUately preceding
from the ptn or Bemal Diaz, althoiigh in strict lan-
guage neither a journey nor R voyage, reoordsin every step of
the vonqiioror^ a new discopetiy of coasts, islands, rivers, dis-
tricts, and tribes, that had neyer been visited before. In con-
^/mi^ with our uniform desire to have recourse upon all
occasions to the most authentic original authorities for every
article admitted iitto this collection, so far as ip o^r power,
the work of Zarate has bew chosen au the record of tne dis-
covery and conouest of Peru, in preference to any modem
compUatioh on me same sul^ect. As we leam from himself,
2«rate was a person of rink and education, who went into
Peru in 1548, only eightem years after the first movements of
Piziuro and Aimagro towards the discover*' of that extensive
country, and only ekvm years after its actual invasion by
Pizarro in 1532.'^ From the illustrious historicn of America,
Dr WiQiam Robertson, the work which we Bow offer to the
public for the first time in the English language, has the fol-
lowing
fl
(BHJUMV.
by Bramaco Pizam,
$99
lowing high character : **^ The hittovy of Zaratc, whether we
attend to it» matter or oompotitiony it a book of contideraUe
jmeritt and great credit ii due to his teftimony." Besides this
general euloey { in his enumeration of six original authors
whom he hacT consulted in the composition of that portion of
his History of America which refers to Peru, he clearly snewf
ihat Zarate alone can be considered as at the same time per-
fectly authentic and sufficiently copious for the purpose we
iiave at present in view. The substance of his account of all
the six is as follows.
^* Two of the more early writers on the subject of the dis-
covery and conquest of Peru, Francisco de Xeres, the secre-
tary of, Pijsarro, and Pedro Sanchez, an officer who served
under the conqueror, breaj^ off almost in the introduction to
the narrative, going no iar Jier into the history of the con-
quest than the deaui of^tahualpa in 15S9, only one year
after the invosipn of ^erp. The thir4 in point of time, Pedro
Cioca de l^n, only two years ^rlicr in Jbis publication than
Zarate, gives nothing more than a description of the country,
and ap account of the institutions and customs of the natives.
Zarate is the/ottrth. fhej^th, Don Diego Fernandez, sole-
ly relates to the dibsentions and civil wars among the Spanish
conquerors. The sixth and last of these origmal authors,
Qarcilasso de la Vega /flff<i, the son of a Spanish officer of
idistinction by a Coiyaf or Peruvian female of the royal race,
gives little mpro than a commentary on the before mentioned
writers, and was not published ti|l 1609, seventy five years
after the invasion of Peru by iPi^arrp ^"
In the Bib^otheque des, Voyagesi VI. 319. moition is
made of a Desaiption of Peru as published in French in
.1480, and said to oe a very rare work : Rare, in4eed, if the
imprint be not ap erroi ,_^/i^r'wo years before the actual iur
vosion and discovery. In the same useful work, the perfor-
mance of Zarate is thus characterized. " The author has
; not confined his views to the history and conquest of Peru,
YbuK has given us a statement of the patural ieatures of the
joountry, an account of the manners of the inhabitants, and a
, (Curious pictpre of the religious opinions and institutions of
.|he Peruvians."
, Four^of the six original authors respecting Peru which are
noticed by Robertson, we have not seen ; having confined
our
11 1-'
»■*!*> '.*<*.:.
1 History of America, note cxxv.
■■nvi:
i»t'a"><sw^^
/
980
CviupintitfPmi PA9T II. KoMvt.
h ''
«Mlr ^«^ to that Of ZaHrtei ik'likh is not ohl^ ^ bMt dfe^Mdi
ing to tlie opittioti of tbht «xetdktit judg6, but th^ bAljr dilft
wMdioottM amw«r tfa« puipbae of our jiiteMiit «;dll«ttioiil
In tM^tring this origftial ^vork for ptlUicMioiY, H Ik 'j^MtMt
to ftdeikowledge tbft w« have Ixien satliified %ith tiWh^iMitit
from the FMiUih tditiolr of P4ri», 17#2'} bt^, huMkn^m
ftttehtion to fidelity of thNidittloii, it hiM h^titi txtt^M^ ieoU
bted thtottghotit 'inith^ tile Bit^hl Gmnktdaf^ tif th« Ine*
(BaMilaiMdebiV^i Hftp«lbliih«dml^ hy SL Paul
Rycauty knight, in 1688; and with the extdielM: ^^H^rfc of
Yh RobeiiAm. It thaj^ be pf 6ber to iMtttibto, hbW«irdr» that
th^ fbllbWiog trtmilatioti, though iiiithfUl, hai beM fMMfe #ith
wtat fro^om of retrMiching ti Mperftuity of uldMti Itognage i
Aottgh nothing has be«n OMitted hi (Mnnl of fiid^, andndthni^
ahdredl
Hftvhtg nuftitioned the %<^ric of Ga^Iauo de la Vega^^ lirhtdi
%«'hftve employed iks to auxiUaty oti thb ptre«ertt oocainbri, it
ittiay be worth wbil^ fo give a short <icc6unt of it in this place;
Wtt there n0T«r was^ perhaps, a literary ooktopositibti so strange-
fyiiiiked tip of'i^tiebftneeted a^ diseotiknt seAsb and ikM-
i|ense, tund s6 tdtAUy devoid of any ^ing like ordef mr ar-
Yang«nent, in the whole chronology ofaotdiorsbip, or ralher
of bboic-making, as has been prothioM b^ ^is sciMi of the
'Iscas. No consideration short bf biir duty to the pnUte,
•^ibuld bAve induced its to wade through su6h a labj^rinih Of
'iibittr^ty M quest bf infdnnatiofl. It is astonishing how the
bottust kn^t could have patience to transklte 10)19 clbtaehr
printed foho pages of such a faiti^ ; and On doting the Work
of the Inca lor ever, we heartily joined in the tbndudhkg ^ous
thanksgiving of the translator, Pratsid be God. Thii «nbi^
mous literary production of the /ffra Oafeil^^j is ttkoit ire-
{IfeJarly divided and subdivided into parts, bodts, HaA chapt^ ;
K^ich cbhtain here a little history, then d^greisionk on iniii
Hers, ^stbmii^'opliuoi^s, ceremonies, laws; pbfitrv ^ti^ mi-
ttals, vegetables, agrfeultdre, buildings, &c. dec. sb. ii^t^rtibt-
ed with bits and ectwi of histbry, in an endleM jwnblel So
that for every individuftl dTbuntStfiilce on Im^ dtte bf the^te
topics, the pains^taking reader ttiuit turn bver the WMble
work with the most anxious attention. We^otean e){-
.^mple, taken absolutely at random, the titles of me C%tlpters
WPwtLBookix. ■ ■ '' < ■ ^^--- .' ^ -"'"■
Chap. I. Huayna Capac makes a gold chain as b^ as a
cable, and why. II. Reduces tea ymes of the coast. III.
Punishes
. tjtur. »>v r,(i*!!in
^V1
KM ft.
i>lii».li|.
bjf Franeiteti Pimrri,
m
iribn, it
'» place:
■trange-
^ or ar-
MrmCher
I of the
! pnUt^,
%ow^
i cldnlv
ikg^out
ikoit ire-
oh tnAn
rtt, iiii-
hltfefrtifat-
nbtei to
of th«tle
e ahOe
lAj^ters
as a
III.
'unishes
t*un{iih^lMMiiiittdei«n. IV.^Vn. Indd^ts of his reign,
dMifliM% itelated. Till. Oodk and Cttit6M8 of the Mantaa.
IX. Of r^tmts ibrmeriy in Pent. X. PhilosophicaT aenti-
iMntt ^flk) Inea concemi^ tlte iiiti. XI. and Xll, $ome
Iticidettts «f iih reign. Xill. Cdnitti^fbtion of two ex^sive
roads. XIV. In Hi({elice of the Spaniards being on tht
cotet XV. TeMiMtot and death ofHttaVnaCapac. XVL
Httw horses and maris were first bred In Peru. XVII. Of
eows and oxvts. XVIIL^-XXlIL, Of various animals, aO
introduced after the tonquest, XXfV.— XXXI. Of TaHous
ptodQctions, some indiffenoas, and oUieft introduced brr the
Sbaniird^. XX^II. Ifnascar dainis homagvfrom Ataoual-
pa. XXXIU.^Xl, Historical Jndd^ts, cOnfusedb arw
^w^, id! wtthOot dMfes. /•;
''^^i6>dio|e wdi^ ii( ieqttalh ixtol^rsdd at best, and ofteKk
pnda more so; ofteil cpnsSsntig of extracts te6m odieir wri-
ten, With comlncntaiilBs, arffumehtations, ridicuious qpeeohes,
mirades, and talm Iredtedlvir o\d Incase and Couas, undes
amits and c^- is of the Mthoft To add to the difflcuhy of
ponsttltition, .jsir I^ul, having exhaiitted his indbrtry in the
transkl^nrt jdvet Ho table c^cbhteots wbiatever, fmd a most
miseittbtei Index i^idi hardly contains an hundredth ptut of
the Sttbstanee of thcl Work. Yet the author of the BibHo-
iSietio^ des VOyl^jfi, 6^ ** that this work is very precious,
aslt'cbrit^ns the btily r^maihintt' notices of the govemmentf
hdUM, manners, aMid eostoms of the Peiiivian8.''^jri/.
Preface OF THE A!rtittOR.
After having ei^oycd th6 office of iecfetary ^o the royal
eoundl of CastiSie for fifteen' years, the king was graciously
pleased to ordei' me to Peru in 1S4S, as treasurer-general of
dMif provmcc land of the Herra Vbrttik ; tn which employ-
ment I was «ntraBted with the jentire recdpt of the royal n>
Vtmuet and rights, and the payment of all his mcuesties offi^
c(A« in those coontrSes. I sailed thither in the fleet which
cdMveyed Blasco Nu^ez Vela the viceroy of Peru ; and im-
mediately on my arrival in the New World, I observed so
m^y ittturrectious^ disputes, and novelties, that I felt much
IndiAed to transmit their mem(My to posterity. I according-
U wrote down every transacdiHi as it occurred t but soon
discovered that these could not be understood unless the pre-
vious
\
I
f^
CottsyestqfPeru part n. Boox ii.
vioiM cvwts wen explained from which th^, ongautlbpL I
fbi|nd it neccMary, tDerafore» to go bock to the (^Ofoh of the
d|Movery of the countiy, to give a detail of, t)ie occunenoe^
in ttieir just order and connieetion. My work fnjght perhapf
have been wmewhat Jinoro perfect, if I had been ab|e tocopf
pojse it in regular order while in Peru } biit a brutal miyor*
general, who had serr^ vasvX&c O(nui|lo Piwrro ', thrcaten-
ed to put any bne.to de^jth who should preaumie to write a hi««>
torV of his transactions^ sp that I w^ obliged to $ati«^ my.
lelf with cbUecUng all >dte documents I <^ij^ ,|urp9!i;Hr<^,^r
tidali^ipg me to oMnjMse my histpfy, afUr reti^rni^g u>^ i^fW
He WM perhaps right in wishing t|b^t|rftns9C^onsmi|^|; ff
mtti oidivion, uist<»d of being iraimmit(<efl to pof^iityi
Should my style of writing t)e found not to pofSfw all the
p^sh that my readers mrn^ desire,, it iirill at least; re^jrd.the
triie state of events j and I, shall not be idi^poiotfxl if it oi^
1^ sefve to enable another^. preset a j)^Apry ot' the same pe^
ridd'iii mor^ di^ant longuitg^ ai^d ;more orderly arrangement,
I Uftye prihcjpalW direc^ my attentipn to a strict r^ixl %r
^uth, tne sQul 6i hjstpijfjuiiu^ neitlie^^
my d^»^ipuon of thinm and events which t. Jbav
iuiowh} an
my arrival^
persons, worthy of credit, lliese wore not ean^ po , &id. in
l^eru, most persons having re^ceived, either Jb|t|ientji: or, itgiiries
fimm the, pf rty of Flzarro or that of Almagro ; which were
as violent in their mutual resentmeiits an the adherents of Map
riuH and Sylla, or ofCaeaar and Pompey of old.
lu all histories tl^ere, are three chief requisites: the <^.e-
aigns, the actions, and the consequences. In the two latter
particulars \ haye used all possible «are to be accurate. If I
ma;^ not atway's agree with other audiors in r^;ai?d to the
first of these circumstances, I can only say that such is oft«n
the case with' the mo^t accurate and ]^thful;hi^ori After
I had finished this work, it was my intention to have kiot it
long unpublished, lest I .mfgnt ot&nd the ^bmiliei of those
persons whose improper p9ndnct is therein pourtrayed, , J^t
vme
I Ev4n k]\t orthography of theii;une of Pizarro.k handk^ down, to us
with some variety. In the work cif barcilasso ^ tfL Yen it is always spelt
Pigsrro : Besides whkh, the IntA Oarcilatssoy in his z\ta9lX pe^petuaf quota-
tions of our author 2^arate, always gives the n«nt! CaMte{ the f, or<iiarifia
f, bein|;^e<quiy^eid; inSpaaisli tqt^;BiQ;^t>cothiV^ ^ Eurcpe.
XiUJOh vt.
bjf Franeiteo Fixarro.
tome penona to whom I Imd oomnmnicotcd my muiatcriptt
•hewed it to the king during hii voyage to Engfandi whi> had
it rend to him ai an amniement iroro the tiresomenen of die
>oyM|ei My work had the oood fortune to pleaie^ his nujciU
^, who honoured it with his ajp|probation, and mieioasfy
commanded me toi have it printed j and which I naTe the
more readily complied with, as his royal commands may pro-
tect my book from the cavils of the censorious readers.
'»
Much diiRculty occurs respecting the origin of the people
who inhabited Peru and the other provinces of America, and
by what means their ancestors could have crossed the vast ex-
tent of sea which separates that country from the old world.
In my opinion this may be explained from what b said by
Pbto in his TimaeuSf and the subsequent dialogue entitled
Atlantis, He says: ** That the Egyptians report, to the ho-
nour of the Athniians, that they contributed to defeat certain
kings who came with a numerous army by sea from the great
island of Atlantis, which, beginning beyond the Pilh^ of
Hercules, is larger than all Asia and Africa tog^her, and is
divided into ten kingdoms which Neptune gave among hit
ten soni. Atlas, the eldest, having the largest and most valu-
able diare." Plato adds several rcmarkaSe particulars con-
coming the customs and riches of that island ; eq)ecially con-
cerning a magnificent temple in the chief city, the waUs of
which were entirely covered over with gold and silver, having
a roof of copper, and many other circumstances which are
here omitted for the sake of brevity { thoiwh it is certain that
several customs and ceremonies mentioneo by Plato are stitt
practised in the provinces of Peru. Beyond the great island
of Atlantis, there were other large islands not far wstant from
the JPirtn Land^ beyond which ^in was the True Sea. The
following are the words which Plato attributes, in his Ti-
maeus, to Socrates, as spoken to the Athenians. ** It is held
certain, that in ancient times your city resisted an immense
number of enemies from the Atlantic Ocean, who had con-
quered almost all Europe and Asia. In those days the Straits
were navigable, and immediately beyond them there was an
island, commencing almost at the Pillars of Hercules^ which
was said to be lai^r than Asia and Africa united ; from
whence the passage was easy to other islands near and oppo-
site to dlie continent of the True Sea," A little sAer this pas-
sage, it is added. " That nine thousand years before his
davs.
^
98t
Conquest <^Peru part ii, aeoc \u
: )
A
^bqf% agnat chaagft took plooe, m the mo o^oiaing dioft
Uand t#o»'MB incnoMd by mn aooBMion of opfodigioiit qwoi*
titjr of «ster, that in the oouiw of one day it ■■alhmed up
the whole iihuid I ^noe when that sea hai fanaiaod aa fiill of
■hallovs and land bviks at to be no> hmgv navigaUe, ncithev
has any one heen able to reach thethet Mmde and the Firm
Some auUion have bdieecd thla reeitel' to be mer^ aJle*
fforical, while most of the conuneiUatoni on Hato conndered
it as a raol hiitorical nanratiTe. The nhu tiotutmd yearg,
nMsitioBed by Plato, mutt not be eunsidered as an indieation
•f this discourse being &boloos ; since, aocordii^ to Eudos*
us, we BNMt understand them as hinar years or moontt after
dw Egyptian mode of computation, or nine thmuand months^
which are cram kundrtd and £fty years. All historians and
eosmoorapbers, ancient os wett as modem, have concurred to
naine%e sea by which that great island was swaUowed iq>,
the AUaniic Ocean, in which the name of that ancicai island
3a retained, giving a stnmg evidence of its former eustence.
Adoplii^, t&refiwe the truth of this historical fact, it must
be granted diat this idand of Atlantis, beginninff ftom the
Stmts of OibEohar near Cadii, must have stretdied a vast
way from nortl^ to south, and from east to west, since it was
larger than all Asia and Africa* The other islands in the
neighbourhood must have been those now named Hispanida,
CuMy Porto Rico, Jamaica, and others of the West Indies {
and the Mrm Lund, that part of the Continent to whidi we
still give the name of Tierra Finrn, tc^^ether with the other
countries and provinces of America, from, the Straits of Ma-
ffcUan in tliesOuth ta the extreme north ) as Peru, Pqpayan,
Odden Castillo, Vera^ua, Nicarwua, Ouatimab, Near Sp«m,
^ Seven Cities^ Ilorida^ BaccaStos, and to On aloi^ the
north to Norway. The authori^ of Plato u conclusive that
the Am World which has been discovered in our time, is the
same Continent or Firm Land mentioned by that philosqshcr j
and his True Sea must be that which we name the South Sea,
or FiBcific Ocean ; foe the whole Mediterranean, and all that
was before known of the Ocean, which we call the North Sea,
can only be consida'ed as rivers or lakes in comparison with
the Tast extent of that other sea. After these explanaticms, it
is not difficult to conceive how mankind in andeqt tiroes may
have passed from the great island oi Jklantis and the o^er
neighbouring isles, to whi^ we now call the Tierra Finna,.or
Firm
ML II*
red up
full of
»Ffm
ndered
jftars,
ication
£ado»»
(, after
MOtU/ttt
Ml and
irred to
red vijpf
it island
ustence.
itmuat
rom the
I a vast
rkwM
in the
panida,
Indies!
bicb we
je other
of Ma^
[opayan,
' r Spain,
iBg the
We that
>, isthe
ipherj
ih Sea,
all that
Sea,
Isonwith
ions* it
may
le o^er
[u?nMit.or
Firm
€iur«vitflVov^i* bjf I^4mii»o0 fumro*
SSJ
i^in*JUifid;aodthraqebykiid»w bflim South Smk 'MUk
Perui A» we inustbdieve that tlM^inhMMlMto of these islanda
practised navigatioBw which tbfQr must^ htive learned fagr ialiiy«
oottfie ixdth the giseal island* in idivoh Plato expresdv saQi*
there were manj abwii and carefidly constracted hari^nnk
These, in my opinion, are the most probeUe ooDJectuvai
which can bei fbneed on this obsaxre sulqect of antiqiiiiy §
ttHire especially a» we can derive no tights wm the Penmans*
who have no writic^ by whii:h to inreserve the memoiy of an-
cient times. In New S^pain, indeed,- they had certain pie-*
tares, which answered in some measwe instead of books and
writings I but in Peru, they oi^y used certain striiu^ of di&
ftrent cojoura wil^ several knots, by means of which and the
distances between them, thev were able to express some
diings in a very confused and uncertain manner, as shall be
explained in thie course of ^m history.
So much of the folk)wing hiftorv as relates to die disoovcuy
of the country, hat been derived ftom the informatioii. c«
Rodrigo Lozan, an inhabitant of TruxiUo in Peru, and fiMm
others who were witnesses of and actors in the tranaactiona
wbicb I have detailed.
Sscnov I.
0/tke drnvmy ofPtru, mth some account oftkeecamiry and
iU inhabiUmts,
. .. Mi
Tw city of Panama, is a port on tibe Soudi Sea, in thtt
province of die continent of America which, u called Golden
CastUle^ In the year 1524, three inhabitants of that ci^ cn»
teredintoaq^aMQciationfor the purpose of discovering the
westecQ coast of die continent by the South Sea, in that di-
rection which has been since named Peru. These were Doa
FranciMta Poano cif Tnutillo, Don Diego de Abnaevo of
Mil^cigon, and itcmando de Luque, an ecclesiasUc No one
knew the liunily or ori^n of Almagro, thouah some said that
he hod beep found at a church door '. 'J^ese men, being
among
1 In a note of the French edition of 1742, it is said that, in the folio edi-
tion of Ztnte printed at Seville in 1677> Luque was called the father of
Almagro, and that no mention is made of that ecclesiastic having tdken any
part in the expedition, Robertson, in his History of America, 11. 279> says
that
i
\>
I-
.4
^(^
n
IM
OMqyeti ^Pnu Mar n. book m
MBong die ridiMt oif tke ooloiiitts of Puuiina, propoied to
liMiMehrM to tnrioh ■nd aggnuidiM thennelfw by iimmm of
diioovmiur new countries, end to do imDortantMrfioe tothe
etnpMOTt UonCerloeV. bgr extending httdoniiniom. Hat-
ing veoeiTed iMrroiMion from Pedro Ariat do Avila*, wbo
then goremed that couotnr, Frandico Pisarro. fitted oat A
veuel with ooneidereUe dimBalt^, in which he embarked with
1 14 men. About fifty leagues from Panania, be discovered
a small and poor district, named B«ru^ jfrgm which that name
has been since irajHtipcrlv ext«ided to all the country after*
wards discovered along that coast to the south for more than
iSOO leagues. BeyoM that Peru, he discovered another dia-
triet, to which the Spaniards gave the name of Fl ISteblo
^utmado, m the Burnt People, The Indians of that country
made war upon him: with so much obstinacy, and killed so
many <^ his men, that ^e was omistrained to r^reat to CAiV
ehama or Chuchama, not &r from Panama.
■ In the mean time, Ahnagro fitted out another vessel at Pa^
name, in whicl^ ^e embarked with 70 men, and went akmg
the coast in search of Pizarro as far as the river San Juan, a
hundred leagues from Panama. Not finding him there, AI-
magro returned along the coast to the Pueblo quemadOf where,
bom certain indications of Pizarro having been there, he
landed with his men. The Indians, pufica up with the re-
membrance of the victory they had gained over Pizarro, at-
tadccd Ahnagro with great courage, and did him considerable
injury i and one da^ tney even penetrated the entrenchment
he had lihrown up tor defence, through some negligence in
the guards, and put the Spaniards to fli^t, who were for-
ced to retreat with loss to their vessel and put to sea, on
which occasion Ahnagro lost an eye. Following the shore on
the waybock towards Panama, Almagro found Pizarro af
«ifj !..!♦ m , Chinchama
that Vtsam wai them^iuat ion of a gtntlcinaa of hoaaiinUc £unily by a
low woBun, and that hu education waa ao entkdy nq^lected that he could
neither read nor write. He adds that, after aerving lome yean in Italy, he
tmbarked for Series, where he greatly diitinguiSied hiinaelf. In oiir lait
chapter, Oiat maltea frequent mention of Pbarro aa aenring whh reputation
onder Cortes, in the early part of the expedition to Mejuco{ but givea no
account of hb quitting the service of Cortes t to whom he was probably
aopiehow related, as the mother of Cortes was named CataUna Pizarro Alta-
mhrano. ^ Almagro, according to Robertson, was a foundling, and bred like
Pizarro in the army. Laque acted as priest and scboolnaater at F^uaamaii,
and had amassed considerule riches.^ — £.
S Named Ftodrarias by Robertoon.-^E.
MA*i vt tfor. U i|y Awmiteo Pimh^
m
Cliineli«iM h Pizarrro wm oMob plMitd by tbf madCioii qC
Alauunrot •• bj meatic of hb in«o, and mmi« •ddwbnfll iol^
diets thMT proeoMd ia ChinchMUk* tlngr luid tMir # fiwct (f
t«o hundred fipaniMfdat Thtgr aooovdiiif^ MPOpBiHtnced thf
Qxpeditkm, enoMTOiiriitf to muJ dowi tM <«Mt to th« lOHtb*
ward* ill two tvitdt and thicv Iw^ omkmp* Xp tliit iMi)r%fi-
tion thcj tiiArod great fatigue (twn coatmj wind< .v . } puM
rent*, and were much iitcommoded when they atta»;.;/i«d to
hmd in any of die numeroue unall riven which faD into tba
South Sea, at they all swarmed at their mouths with h|ig«
liaards, or alligators, called cayp ins by the native. Thai*
animak are onlinarify from twenty to twenty 'five fe^ long^
and kill either men or beasts when in the.wa^er* They oomo
out of the water to lay their tmh yhiuAi they bui^ in ipiit
numbers in the sand, leaving them co be h<!*^hed b;» ijielfe^
of the sun. These caymans hate a stronjj resemblar «. ' > tf> thf
crocodiles of the river Nile. The Spaniardi sn^ '^f<^4 muioh
firom hunger in this voyage, as they couk^ '^nd nothing fit l >
eat along this coast except the fruit of a i <vo called mai^leii»
which grew in great abundance VHvntlu^xe mom the shora,
These trees are tall and straifj^t, aoa have a veiynard wood |
but as they grow on the shore, didr roots being drenched ia
tea water, tbeir fruit is salt and bitter ; yet neoeasitv oUu^
the Spaniardo to subsist on them, alona with suchfiiA as megr
tould find, particularly crabs ; as on tSe whole of that coast
no lUaiae was gfown by the natives. From the cutrenta along
this coast, which ahvays set strongly to the north, they were
obliged to make their way by dint of constant rowing} al«
way* harassed by the Indians, who assailed them with loud
cries, tailing them banished men, and haityfa£e$, who were
fimned from the spray of th' Ma, and wandered about with-
out cultivating the earth, U^" t^^T-xasts and vagabonds*
Having kwt sevnral of his nieu through fiunine and by the in^
cessaht attacks of the Indians, it was agreed that Alma^o
should return to Panama for recruiu and provilions* Having
procuredtwraty-four, th^y advancadwiththcs4» and the remaina
VOL. IV. Y of
8 Chhiehmiu, by the map id Zant* ia that part of tM watam cssft vt
Tlana Firma or Darien, opposite the Isia del Rey. The poor province of
Pern, beTond or to the touthwanb of Cinchama, ia that now called Biru<
quote i md the Pueblo quenuda, or Burnt People, muat be looked for in the
(rovinesafNbvtu, perbapa Nosnaiasa, immsiistrfy to tha aootkef^ "
n the «^f«r ef St /ttVi.— «.
iSB
Conquest of Peru
FART IT. SOOk ifj
I
of theif dhiginal force to a country named Catcmex*, consi-
derably beyorocl the river df St Juan, a tolerably peofded
cchjhtryi in ^rhlch they found plenty of provisions. The In^
dians of this part of the coast, who were still hostile, were ob-*
serv^ to have certain ornaments of gold, resembling nails,<
insMted iiito holes made for that purpose in different parts of
their faces. Almagro was sent back a second time to Pana-
ma, to endeavdflrr to procure a lareer force, and Pizarro re-
tired in the mean time to the small island of Gallo somewhat
farther to the north, near the shore of the Barbacoast (^n^ not
fyr from- Cape MangleSf where he and his people suffered
extreme h^ships from scarcity of provisions, amounting al-
most to absolute famine. »
Oh the return of Almagro to Panama for reinforcements,
lie found the government- in the hands of Pedro de los Rios,
who opposed the design of Ahnagro to raise recruits, because
thoite with I^zarro had secretly conveyed a petition to the
gdvernor, not to permit any more people to be sent upon an
entcrprize of so much daneer, and requesting their own re-
call The governor^ therefore, sent an officer to the Isle of
Oallo, with an order for such as were so inclined to return to
Panama, which was eagerly embraced by the greatest part of
the soldiers of Pizarro', twelve mily remaining along with him.
IJot daring' to remain with so small a force in an island so
near the main land, Pizarro retired to an uninhabited island
named Gorgdna, about 70 miles farther north, and consider-
ably more distant from the coast than Galk), in which island,
which had abundance of springs and rivulets, he and bis .<!mall
band of faithful associates, lived on crabs in expectation of re-
lief and reinforcement from Panama. At last a veise) arriv-
ed with provisions, but no soldiers, in which Pizarro embark-
ed with his twelve men, to whose courage and constancy the
discovery of Peru was owing. Their names deserve to be
handed down to posterity : Nicolas de Ribera, Pedro de
Candia a native of the Greek island of that name, Juan de
Torre, Alfonso Briseno, Christoval de PerauUe, Alfonso de
Truxiilo, Francisco de Cuellarj and Alfonso de Molina '.
llie pilot of the vessel in which they embarked was named
Bartholomew !^ruyz, a native of Moguer. Under the guid-
ance
»
4 Tacamez, otherwise caUe4 the district of Esnuraldas, or of emeralds,
is ill the kingdom of Quito near the equinoctial line. — £. ^ .,
5 Instead of tiuelvet the text only names eight of the brave aiMXuates
of Pizanro."^E. .
i;
CHAP. VI. SECT. I. by Uratuiico Puunroi
939
ance of this man, but with infinite di£Bciilty from contrtry
winds and advene currents, Pizarro reached a district namiad'
Mbsiripe^, Sfboat equally distant from the two places since
built by the Chriitians, named Truxillo and San BiiffudL
With tue veiy small number of men who accompanied him,
Pizarrd dared not to advance any farther along the coas^,> and
contented himself with going a small way upmexivtt Puechoa
or de la Chira ^ ; where he procured some of the sheep ^ (^
the country, and some of the natives on purpose to serve
him as interpreters in the sequel. Returning, from thence,
Pizarro went northwards to the port of 'Himba on the south-
side of the bay of Guayaquil^ where he was informed that the
king of Peril had a fine palace, and where the Indians were
said to. be very rich. This place was one of the most extra-
ordinary in the country, until it was ruined by the inhabitants
of the island of Puna, as will be related herecfter; At this
place, three of his men desertedf who were afterwards put to
death by the Indians.
After these discoveries, Pizarro returned to Panama, hav-
ing spent' three years in this voyage, counting from his first
leaving Panama, in which time he was exposed to many dan-^*
gers fatigues and privations, by the opposition and hostilities
of the Indians, and through ftimine, and more than all di»'
tressed by the discontents and mutinies of his people, most of
whom lost all hope of success, or of deriving any advantage
from the expedition. Pizarro soothed their fears and en-<
couraged their perseverance by every means in his power,
providing for their necessities with much prudent care, and
bearing up against every difficulty with astonishing firmness
and perseverance : leaving to Alms^o to provide men arms
and horses, and necessaries of all kinds for the enterprize.
These two officers, fi'om being the richest of the settlers in
I Panama
I
' 6 Morope, inbt. 6" 35 ', in the district of Sana, is in the situation of
the place mentioned in the teM.— E. -i-'i
7 This riTer, otherwise called Aniatape, runs into the bay of Payta, in
lat. 5« 10' sooth.— £.
s Under the name of Peruvian sheep, five species of the Camel genus
are known to naturalists, the Olama or Llama, Ouanaco,.GhiUibueque,
Vicusna, and Plcos. The three former were used as animals of burthen
bv the native Peruvians, and domesticated, the two lauer, especially the
Vicugna, are valuable for the firmness of their fleeces. The thred larger
•pecies carry loads of about a hundred pounds weight, the other two*
when domesticated, may be made to carry smaller burdens of from fifty
to seventy-five pounds.— E. .„,,•, ,,.4««: sa.i^u,,-' -; -,.-:t>,!^'„ <
il49
Can^uest of Peru pirt ii. book n»
/'
,»
P«lMnia at the cominehcemeilt of their enterprize, were now
entirely ruined and overwhelmed in debt { yet did diey not
deipair of ultimate anccess, and resolved to prosecute tha
diicoyery of which a very promising commencement had now
I^Nwn made '.
i- In concert with his associates Ahnadro and Lnque, Pizarro
went to Spain, to lay an account before the king of the dis-
eoveiy which he had made, and to solicit the appointment of
aorernor of that conntfy* of '^hich he proposed to prosecute
^e discorecy, and to reduce it under the dominion of the
crown of Spain. His majesly granted his demand* under
those oottdttiona which used to be stipulated with other oflB-'
cers ^ho (Sngaoed in similar enterprizes. With this authori-
ty, he VBtumeato Panamat accompanied by Ferdinand, Juan,
and Gonzalo Pizarro, and Francisco Martin de Alcantara,
his brothers^ l^erdinand and Juan Pizarro were his brothers
both by fiuher and mother, and the only lawful sons of Oon-
zalb Pizarro, an inhabitant of Truxillo in Old Spain, a cap-
tain in the in&ntry regiment of Navarre : Don Francisco Piz-
arro himself and Gonzalo Pizarro were natural sons of the
elder Gonzalo Piaano by difieroit mothers : Francisco de Al*
catatara Was Ukewise the brother of Don Francisco Pizarro,
by his mother only, bat fay a different tatheir '<*. Besides
these, Pizarro brou|^t as many men from Spain to assist in
his enteirnrine as he could procure, being mostly inhabitants
of TruxiUe and other places in Estremaoura *"'.
On hu arrival at Panama in 1530, Pizarro and his assocr-
lAcs used every effort to complete the prepam^ionsfor the cn-
terprizo}
S;>
9 k WM now toward* ths dote of 1527, the third vev firoat tKe ftrtt
departure of Phurro from Panania.-~Robertioiu Amence, II. asi.
10 Robertson, It. 884. gives a diflerent account of these four relations of
fsimcitco Piiarro from Zaratt-. According to him, Ferdinand was the onlf
bwfttl son of old Gonzalo Pixarre i FranciKO, Juan, and the younger Gon>
zalo being all natural sons ; andt Francisco de Alcantara wa» the uncle of
Don Francisco, being the brother of hiis am>ther. In the Mqusd, the cenque*
for of Peru sh^ \m always mentioned bf the single name or Piiarra, distin-
guishing his brothers by the addition of their christian names. While in %>aifl>
Pimrd noeivsia wppiy of moaer fnmi Certai, under whom he had served
in die catfy ftart of toe conquctt ot Mexico*— 'E.
1 1 His commisiiion fram the crown of Spain, fimposed. the condition ti
raising sso men, and to supply the ships and warlike stores necessary fat
the expedition ; but his fuaids and credit were so low that he couM hardly
complete half the aumber, and had to steal sway fivm the port of Seville ta
i>|ude the examination o£ the officers as te ths fiUfilnent oc his contraet.^
KobcrtioBi America^ II. 984.
■e now
ey not
ite th«
id now
Pisorro
ihedis-
nent of
loKtCute
of the
i, under
her offi"
authori-
[1, Juan*
cantara,
brothers
of Oon-
n, a cap*
a»co Pa-
ns of the
code AU
Pisarro,
Besides
assist in
ibitants
lis associ*
>r the en-*
terprizei
Im Ui« first
IsSK
relations of
ras the only
lunger Gon-
ihe uncle of
[the cenqus-
Vrra, distin*
Inc in 8paifl>
hadwrved
IcoRdition of
cestary fo»
ouM hardly
|>f Serillc f.
«aAP. Ti. 8EGT. I* Igf I^aneiico Pimrro,
9«1
terprize } but at first » di^te arose betweo him aofl Ahn*>
gro. The latter comnlained that Pizarro hud <}ii^ attended
to, his own interestr when et the court .^ ^pimt having pr^fDn
cureid the appointments of governor «ad president pf Pern tfilt'
himself* without milking eny mention of Ahno^p, or #t leMt
without having procored any office for himi who 1)^ i!K>rn^
the fi|r greater proportion of the expences hitherto iac^f^t^,
Pizarro alleged that the i^ing had refused to give anty office to
Almagro, though solicited by him for that purpose : jBut en-
gaged his word to renounce the office of president in hi^ b^
hali; and to supplicate the king to bestow that appointment
Hpon him> Almi^ro was appeased by this <'>rinces»ion ; and
they proceeded to make every pre|p«irati<») in cofK-ert that
might be conducive to the succf ss of the qadertftking. Ant,
bemre entering jipon the narrative of their actions, it seems
proper to aive some account of the situation of Peru, of the
Kiost remamMe tilings which it contains, and of the manners
and customs of the inhabitants.
The country of Peru, of which this history is intended to
treat, ^mnmences at the equator, and extends south towards
the antartic pole **. The people who inhabit in the neifftr
bourhood of the equator have swarthy complexioas ; their
language is extremely guttural ; and they are addicted to an-
natural vices, for wtMch reason they care little for their women
and use them ill ' % The women wear their hair very short,
and
II It is impossible to give any competent geographical account of this e»-
tensive country in the compass of a note. Proper Feru begins at the tiyer
Tumbez in the gulf of Guayaquil, in about lat. $• 9Cf S. and«xteHd(SiUB.
slon^ the PaciHc Ocean to the desert of Atacama, whi^h divides k IVmb
Chili, in lat. 81" 8S 8. an extent of about isoo miles ; coaiisthig nf two
remarkably different tracts of country. A narrow v|lify aloag the Pacific
Ocean, seldom so much as 70 miles in breadth, boundied on the east by the
enormous main ridge of the Andes ; beyond which are many devated vallies
er table lands of various extent, divided by csUateral ridges and brandies of
the Andes, from each other and from the prodigiously extensive plaias of
the vast Orinoco Maranon and La Plata ri vert . Qjuito, which had bess an-
nexed to the kingdpm of Peru, only a short time before the Spanish con-
quest, is siBiilarly situated, both as to maritime vale, and elevated table land,
immedtstely to ue north of Pern proper, and seems to have reached tnm
lat. 3« 90' s. to about lat, i° N. but is now included in the viceroysky of
New Granada which reaches to the Carribbean sea, with which it is connect-
ed by the river Magdalen*. — ^E.
13 The substance of this description appears to refer entirely to that pro-
vince of the kingdom of QuitQ which is named Esmeraklas or Tacamez, on
both sides of the equator.— £.
} A
.*(-
to ,vis'.n>i:i
f-
141 ' CdHquest of Peru PAnr ii. book ii(^
idid tikdii' whole clothing consists of a short petticoat, covott
lets (Holy from the waist to ahont the knees. By the won^eii
omjfii' the grain cultivated, and by them it is bruised or
|(round to meal, and baked. This girain, called maize in the
We^tlndian Islands, is called Zara in thelanguaffe of Peru *\
The mien weiar a kind of shirts or jackets without sleeveis,
whidi only reach to the navel, and do not cover the parts of
dhame. "niey wear their hair short, havitic a kind of tonsure
pa their crowns, almost like monks. Thejr have no other
dress or coyering, yet pride themselves on certain ornaments
' ;<^ gold hanging from their ears and nostrils, and are parti-
cuurly fona of pendants made of emeralds, which are dhiefly
found in those' ^arts of the counti^ bordering on the equator.
The natives have always concealed the placed where these pre-
,iHOUs stonef are procured ; but the iSpaniarda have been in
use to find sotne emeralds in that part of the country, mixed
among pebbles and gravel, on which account it is supposed
that the natives procured them from thence. The men also
are fond of weliring a kind of bracelets, or strings of beads,
'ef'gold and silver, mixed with small turquoise stones And
white shells. Or of various colours; and the women are not
permitter*. to wear any of those ornaments.
The country is exceedingly hot and unwholesome, and the
inhabitants are particularly subject to certain malignant warts
. or carbundes of a dangerous nature on the face and other
parts of the body, having very deep roots, which are more
danserous than the small-pox, and almost equally destructive
; as the carbuncles of the plague. The natives have many
temples, of which the doors always front (he east,' and are
closed only by cotton curtains* In each temple there are two
idols or figures in relief resembling black goats, before which
diey continually bum certain sweet-smelling woods, f'rom
this wood a certain liquor exude^, when the bark is stri]^
pcd o£P, which has a strong and disairreeable flavour, by means
of which dead bodies are preserved Tree from corruption. In
their temples, ther have also representations of large serpients,
to which they give adoration; besides wliich every nation,
district, tribe or house, had its particular gqd or idol. In
some temples, particularly in those ofcertam villages which
were
14 Various rrasors have been assigned for the ori;;in of the word Peru, as
the name of the empire of the Incas, unknown to themselves, at least in that
sense. The most probable derivation is from the river Piura, near its north'^
em frontier, where it was first visited by Pizarro. — £.
'ik.
iCHAX U SEGXi I.
b^'Eraneiieo Pizarro,
m
were called Pqfao^ the wv3h and pillarl -werb hu^ around
with dried bodies ofiQen women and children^ in the/i>m'Of
erossest which wereiall so thoroughly embalmed hy meiuw^oC
the liquor already mentioned, that they were <^tirely deyciikl.
of bad smell. In these places also they hod iiMinjr hfilPaA
heads hung up j which by means of certain dnus with wbilll
diey were anointed, were so much shrunk or dried up aa to
be no bigger than a mans fist '^ « .-.ovmiH.
. This country is extremely dry, as it very seldom, haftt any
rain, and jts rivulets are few and scanty f so that 'the people
are reduced to the necessity of digging pit-weljs, or of pro-*
curing water fcom certain pools or reservoirs. , Their houses
are built of lar^ canes or reeds. .It possesses goldt) but of a
very low quantity {: and has very few fruits. Ttifr inhabir
tanteuse small cimoes hollowed out of thetriinlMof;tree«» and
a sort of rafb which are very flat. ' The whole coatt fiboundi
in fish, and whales are sometimes seen in thei»e seak* On the
doors of the temples in tthat district which iacaU^iCoT^ffff^t
the figures of men are wmetlmes seen, which haye dresies
somewhat resembljug those of ou^ d^ttcons. ,. >
^ Near the last mentioned proving, at Cape! St! Helena in
the province of Guayaquil, there are certain $prm« or mi>
neral veins which giveout a specie^ of bitumen jresemlm^ pitch
or tar, and which is applied tq the same purposes* ' "Die In^
dians of that, country pretend that in ancienl time^ it was inr
habited by giants, who were four time^ the h^h^ pf ordir
nai^ men '*'. The Spaniard* saw two rjepreKi^tation^iK^thepe
giants at Puerto viejo^ one of a man and the other of «/V«oman«
and the inhabitants related a tvaditionary tale of the>: descent
of a young man from heaven* whose couiUuuanceiand body
shone like the sun, who fought against the giants and destroy-
ed them with flameisof fire. In the year )54^, Ci^itain Juan
de Holmos, lieutenant-governor ofPuertovjejo, caused a cer-
tain valley to be carefully examined, in which the^e giants
•,'•■■ ■ •■> : , . inn; v.m JlWle
t> '■"..■■ ■ ■ ^'"■'- ■-!"■■■
ti; 15 This circunutance is unlotelliglble, as the bones could not shijuk, un-
leu by supposing these human heads to have been the heads pf snuaU apes,
resembling human faces. The expression of the text, imihediatejy before,
of human carcasses hung up in the form of crostes, ought perhaps to have
been rendered instead of crosses.—- £.
-^^ 1 6 A good deal matt it said of these giants, both by Zarate and Garcilas-
so de la Vega, p> 363, but so vague and absurd as not to be vrarth insertion.
The whole story seems to have arisen out of the colotsal representation ef a
man and woman at Puerto viejo.~o£ a, -n^ ii.-^ w
■. •«/*..
'. T. #^- ■■^
^44
.v<
CbUfue^ of P^ fAKT n. 9ock n.
#e«tt likftto ham been d(:;si;|%y«d» m<^< m rhibh ribs and
<itlnr)kAA of procligiauA ^iiz« vtr^ dlug op, whidi fully con*
i^o^ lite traditioiM 6(%h' Iskucmi'^ Iim votiyvt of thii
oouiitrv Mte fio krowledgr; scbutftvin cf »■ "ritj <sj? , > jr had tlK^
«v«fi' wf QM- of t|ii)t tim^od oi piiii;ii|kg mu>l':ijed by the
Meodta^if .<T ^MMTving the 'tiemoryof anfiem«ArentK, which
■^*:Tif huuiM ^(MmA'oin fWlhcrto ion merely by traditionary
•lories. Ka same places inde<^ they uied an "extraordinary
jDeans^r preserviiY^ the remciabraDce of :w^ii tant cveiits,
by eeitain omttYs or iiiringk. of cotton cBile%^^ Qiajwft on which
they 4«pfesented nt(r''U>crs by knoti of dtfFert?ni Icindt, and at
regnbted intervals, fVoun unitt im to » v. >n5, und so forth; the
Coids being of the same colours vith those things which they
#ere intemled to represent. In every province, diere are
persons who are entrusted with the care of tiiese sut/cipoj) who
mr&^ameA -fbtippo cofMyos^ who register public matters by
means of these coloured strings and knots artificially diqoosv
ed I and it is wonderful ^%ith what readiness these men under*
stand a|id expliwi to otl*crs events that have happened sever-
al ages ago. There are public buildings throughout the
eorni^ Which tire used a» magazines of these ^uippos.
' Tothe Muih of the equi^tor, and near the cotwt, is the is«
land OfPkiM '*> about twelve leasues in circumference, con-«
tbining abtindvwe of game, and having great quantities of
fish on itfe dioires. It has plenty of firesh water, and was for>
ineriy Very pqnilous, its inhabitants being almost continually
enga^fidin ^r, especially with the people of Tumbez^ which
is tw^W lei^jiiies distimt to the south. These people wore
akirts^-above which^heyhad a kind of woollen garments.
^t^aey went to sea in a peculiar kind of flats or rafts, made of
lon|;' planks of a light wood fixed to two other crow planks
belOw them to hold them together. The upper planks are
stlwiMrs an uneven number, usually five, but sometimes seven
ov'Hinei fliat in the middle, on which the conductor of the
4oAt sits and rows, beipg longer than the others, which arc
shorter and shorter toward the sides, and they are covered
by a species c^ awning to keep those who sit upon them from
the wc&ther. Sp<ne of these fiof^ts ^x^ large enough to carry
-I.- ■■, '.;' fifty
l7Tbnbiaerd)r« npstilien of the it; loan of Mexico and the Ohio,
alresdv referred to the Mammoth, or tnuml ignotam.-- £.
1 8 Pans is in the bay of Guayaquil, in tat. S<* S. and it near thirty leagves
ifi, circumfiereDC^, being about tm league* long by five in breadth.-— £.
:l
btfload
ly COD-
of thU
■dth«y
bf the
, which
itionai^
>rdinai7
ovekitst
n which
^ and at
rthrthe
khthejr
bere are
0O9t ^0
itten by
y dtipofiv
n iinder«»
ed seyer-
lout the
)*.
is the is-
ice» con-«
ntities of
I was for"
(ntinuallv
|z, which
pie wore
(arments..
made of
planks
inKB are
les seven
ir pf the
rhich are
covered
lem from
to carry
fifty
i the Ohioy
IrWyleifueb
CHAP, n* m^* I* kf ^fOf*eisco Pixarro,
S45
fifty men imd three hones, and are navigated both by oars
and sails, in the use of wMch the Indians lure very expert.
Spmetimes, when the Spaniards have trusted themselves on
these floats, the Indian rowers have contrived to loosen the
{}lanks,J^ving the christians to perish, and saving tliemselves
)y swimming. Hie Indians of thrt island were armed with
bows and slings^ and with maces and axes of silver and cop-
per. They had likewise spears pr lunces, having heads made .
of g<^ very much alloyea } and both men and women wore
rings and other ornaments of gold, and their moat ordinary
utensils were made of gold and silver. The lord of this island
was niuch feared and respected by his subjects, and so extreme-
ly jealous of bis women, that those who had the care of them
were not only eunuchs, but had their noses cut off. In a
small island near Puna, there was found in a house the r^re-
sentation of a aarden, having the figures of various trees and
plants artificiaUy made of gold and silver.
Opposite to the island of Puna on the main land, there
dwelt a nation or tribe which had given so much offence to
the king of Peru, that they were o^iged as a punishment to
extirpate all their upper teeth i in consequence of which, even
now, the people of that district have no teeth in their uj^per
jaws. From Tumbeis for five hundred leagues to the south
along the coast oi the Kouth sea, and for ten leagues in breadth,
more or less according to the distance between the sea and
the Hiountaiiis, it never rains or thqndei's. But oa the mows-
tains which bound th^t maritime plain, there are both rain
and th«Msder, ami the tiimate has the vicissitudes of summer
and winter U[««rfy as in Spain. While it is wiHtter in th«
moHsUia, it i« summer all along the coast ; ai\vl on the con-
trary, <^ii^ tht' summer on the mountain the coast has what
«M^ W tettito^d winter. Tlie length ot Peru, from the city of
Sif ^MM dt Parto to the province of Chili lately discovered, is
aj^vtt I $00 '< leoifues of Castilie. Along tW whole of that
lei^^ a vast chain of exceedi^ly high mkI desert mountains
»(l«ttds from north to sotMk, in some places fitlren or twenty
leti^ues distant from th<^ sea, and less in others. The whole
country is thus divided into two portions, all the space be>
R tween
19 The estimate in the text is exceedingly erroneoi\s. The city of Parto
U in lat. !■> 12' N. anu the Rio de Loa, or commewt eli\ent of the desert of
Atacams, in lat si *> C6' S. which give only a ulmrence of nearly 35 degrees
of latitude, whkh at 17^ Spanish \eagues to the degree are only 438 leagues.
Even supposing the text to include Chili, which extends to SS" 21' S. the
whole extent of Peru and Chili is only 753 Spanish leagues.-—!;.
•':r-^"-^y^r- "'-7'"*---'-^-.-rT»?Wi ■•- ■ - ■ .^fe>^r>-v- -
S46
Cdnquest ofFeru »art ii. book it,
'
tween the mountaiilsand the seabeini^ denominated M^/t/u/m,
and all beyond is called the mountain.
The whole plain of Peril is sandy and extremely arid, as it
never has any rain, and there are no spr)ng!> or wells, nor any
rivulets, except in four or Ave pla< s near the sen, wkere the
water is brackish. The only water used by the inhamtants is
frbin torents which come tlown fVom the mountain, and which
are there formed by rain und the meltinff of snow, as tliere
are jsiircn very few Iprlngs in the tiioinitainous part of the
C!(|||fl||-y. Tti some places, these torrents or mounthin-streams
Ar6 twl>(v(i llllei'ti 01 (winty leaitue-' distance froili each otjier,
but generally only seven ol- ei|pit leHKUfit* ) n(m| travellers fot-
ihe nio»t part are under the necessity of regulating tlieJP dfly»
Jdurnicb by thcsp stt'pams or rivers, that tln*y may have water
for thenlselveti and cattle. Along these rivers, for the breadth
of a league, more or less according to the nature of the soil,
there a|re some groyes and fruit-trees, and maize fields culti-*
vated by the Indiana, to ft^hich wheat has l>een added since
ihe establishment, of the Spaniards. For the purpose of irrigat-
jtig or watering thete cultivated fields, small canals are dug
p-ohi th^ rjterfi, to conduct the water wherever it is necessary
and where that can be donej and in the construction of thei^
the natives are exceedingly Jnfif''ri|niis and careful, having often
{o draw these canals seven or tigltl leagues by \afiou8 circuits
o avoid ititermcdiate hollows, althouffh perhaps the whole
breadth of the vale may not exceed ha|t a |eague. In all these
ismullcr Vales along the streams and torrents, from the moun-
tain to the sea, the country is '.>cecdingly fertile and agree>
'ftble. Several of these torrents are so large and deep, such ai
^hose of ^lanta, Baranca, and others, that without the Assistance
6f the Ii)ditins, vho break and diminish for a short time the
tbroe of the current, by means of piles and brancheis forming
a toniporafy wear or dike, the Spaniards would be unable to
i^asi. In these hazardous passages, it was necessary to get
over with all possible expedition, to avoid the violence of tne
stream, which oflen rolled dovtm very large stones. Travellers
in the plain of Peru, when going north or south, almost al-
ways keep within sight of the sea, where the torrents are less
violent, owing to the greater flatness of tiie plain as it recedes
from tlie mountain. Yet in winter the passage of these tor-
rents is extremely dangerous, as they cannot be then forded,
and must be crossed in barks or floats like those formerly men-
tioned, or on a kind of rafts made of gourds inclosed in a net,
on
^'^Cl, ;iSlft&j« Ci,! VJi5©* «;i<:ji!vnSCil*K( ^^.SHi'a^iO!!
.«HAP: vk. ^ECT. I. ^ Francisco Pizarro.
>^
on which the passenger reclines, while one Indian swims ber
fore pulling the raft after him with a rope, and another In-
dian swims behind and pushes tiie raft before him.
■ On the borders of th«se rivers there arc vorious kinds of
fruit-trees, cotton-trees, willows, and many kinds of canes,
reeds, and s^ges. The watered land is extremely fertile,
and is kept under c<Hitinual cultivation) wheat and maize
5eing sown eihd reaped all the year through. The Indians
in the plain seldom have any houses, or at iMSt a kind of mde
huts or cabins made 6f branches of trees, often dwelling under
the shade of trees, without any habitation whatever. The
worrjon are habited in long dresiies of cotton which descend to
their Ibet { while tne men wear breeches and vests which conM
down td theif knees^ and have a kind of cloak or mantle
ihiti*itt 'over their shoulders. They qre all dressed in a si^
jfniiaf hiahner, having no distinctions except in their head-dres-
fl^,' according to rank 6r th^ different districts of the country )
sdMe wiring a tuft o^ wool, others a single cord, and others
several cords of different colours. All the Indians of the plain
are distributed Into three orders; the first named Yung^a;,
thd ^(icondi ^^aliat^iy finA ^Q ihirdi Mochicas. Every pro-
vince has its own peculiar language or dialect, different from
all the rest^ But lill the caciques or principal people and
nobles of the couhtry, besides th0; language peculiar to their
respective countries or districts, were obliged to understand
and speak the language of Cuzco. One of the Peruvian
kings, named Huana Capac, the father of^ Atahualpa or Ata-
bifilipa, was much di^leased that thte caciques and principal
people of his empW mould be under the niec^ssity of omploy^
ing intei^reters' wh^n they had occasion to speak tohim ; and
gave' ordiers that all the Caciques and their relatives should
is^d their children to reside at court, to be instructed in the
language of Guzco which was spoken by the Ihcas. This was
the ostensible reason of the nieasui^ { but in reality he wish-
ed to hjEtve these children in his power^ to serve as hostages
fpr^ thei loyalty Of their^parents. By this means, all the nbmes
of the land came to understand the peculiar language of Cuzco
which wias spoken at Court ; just as in Flanders aU the nobles
alid persons of any rank speak French. Owing to this cir-
cumstance, as the Spaniards have learnt the language of the
IncasV or of Guzcd, they are able to converse with all the
j^rm(»pal:na|i|ves cif P^ bpth^hpse.ctf th^.mp,untain and of
theplam. . ; .
Conquest qf Peru rAM ii. sqok if.
-y^li may appeal^ difficult to lome <^ m^ readtm to oomprs-
bisnd why no rain should fall in the plain of Peru, coniidcr*
ing that the country it bounded along the whole of one aide
by the sea, where many vapours are constantly aacQndfB(|[»
and on the other aide by a vast range of mountain whkh m
alwaya enveloped in rain or aoow. Thotewho have carefully
conaidered thia singular phenomenon* al^ge that it is occa-
sioned by the continual prevalence of a stroi^ south-west
wind all along the coast and over the wluJe plain of Peru*
which carrie« off all the vapours which rise from tW a^ ab4
the Iand» without allowing them to riae sufiiciently h^h in tho ^
air to gather and fiill down again in rain. From the tops 0f
the high mountains, these v^ours are often afW far benjoath
on the plain in thick doudti, while aU is quite ctesr and a^Mie
on the mountain. Bv the perpetual blowing pf .the aam«
wind, the waters of the South-sea have a «OPataiit<;nri:^it
abng the coast to the northward. Others allege # different
reason for this current; saying, tiiat t^ water of the South* /
sea having only ^ narrow outlet at the straits of Magellan,,
which erd only two leagues broad, and. being there q|>posed'
by the Atlantic Ocean, they are for0ed to return to the north* >
ward along the coast of Chili and Peru. Thia conatant ivind
tad current render tLe navigation esceedifu|^y difficulty^ from
Panama to Peru for the greater part of the year i ao that
Vessels are obliged always to tack to windward agaipst wind
and current
The whole coast of Peru abounds in^ Q^h of variom kinds»f
amimg which are great <J)ianlities of seancalvesor seals, of se*t
veral species. Beyond the river of Tttj«ib«2 there, are no
caymans or alligators, which is supposed to be owing to }^
too great coolness of the sea and rivers, as these ammfds def r^
lij^t in heat { but it is more probable that; their fAMfaaeif froiA
the rivers of Peru is occasioned by their grea^ rapidityi aa
they usually fi*equent rivers that are very stJill. Xn the whole
extent of the plain, there are only fiyedities inhabited by the
Christians »"*. The first of these, Puerto. Vigp, al^t^ one
degree south of the line, has very few inhabitaj^ts, as it stands
in a poor and unwholesome country, inwhifh tlie pr¥>cif^
■■V.M, i ..» ...-.., production^;
90 Th'n li only to be understood of the period wjheo Z^U wrote, abont >'
' the middle of the sixteenth century, or two huqdred and fifty yclui ago.
The first town he enutnt.ates, Puerto Viejo, is now ai the iiittttifAy iff
NewGranada.— E. - ;: ' . / ■ " -=v ;. .ludq afi|, .
9HMr* n. noiv i. by Urandsco Pixarro.
349
I
I who1«
i by the
«|t op?
riffdftal
about
production of valiM it ft few emeralds. Fifty leagner to the
wHithwtfd, and about ftfleen leagues Axmi uie coast, k the
mtf of San Miffoel, named Piuru by the Indians, in a pie*-
lant and fruitfiu country, but which has no mines of gold or
silver. Most people who hare occasion to go there are liable
to be afflicted wita diseasca of the eyes. Sixty leagues fa-
ther along* the eoaH, is the city of Triixillo, two leagues from
the sea, in the Valley of Chimo, having a dangerous harbour
of dimolt approach. This city stands on the banks of a ri-
ver in a fine plain, which is fertile in wheat and maite, and
lireeds great abundanoe of cattle, haTing plenty of excdlent
water. Truxilb is very regularly built, and is inhabited by
about throe hundred Spanish families. About eighty leagues
from TruxUlo to the south, and in the valley of Afmac, stands
the city of LotBgySt or Uma, because it was founded at Epi-
phany, vulgarly called the day of the kings. This city is »•
iMut two leagues from the harbour of Callaot an excellent
and secure harbour, and is situated on a larcc river in a fine
plain, abounding in grain, and in all kinds ot fruit and^cattle.
All the streets are perfectly straight, and all of them lead to-
wards the oountiy, which may be seen from all parts of the
city. This is a most agreeable residence, as the air is always
temperate, being never either too hot or too cold at any sea-
son of the year. During the four months which constitute
the summer in Spain, the air here is somewhat cooler than
for the rest of the year ; and every day frcHn sun-rise to noon
there laUs a light dew, somewhat like the mists at Valladolid
in Old Spain. Far from beine injurious to health, this sllshi
moisture is reckoned an infidlible cure for headaches. Tnis
part of the country produces the same kinds of fruit as are
found in Spain, particularly oranges, citrons, and lemons of
all kinds, both sweet and sour, with figs and pom^ranates.
It might assuredly have produced grap^ii in great abundance,
if the discords which have prevailetl m dif? country had at*
lowed the colonists to plant and cultlvRte the vine ; as it al-
ready has several thriving vine plants which have grown from
the pips of dried raisins. The neighbouring country pro-
duces all kinds of pot herbs and garden vegetables usually
cultivated in Spain, in great perfection and abundance. Inr*
deed every thing conspires to assist cultivation at this place,
as every plantation has a canal from the river sufficiently
large for a mill-stream ; and on the main river, the S^aniorctt
have several com-miUs. This city is universally reckoned
f:'-v the
iso
.Gonqucit of Peru
PAIT II. BOOK If.
the mmt solula-ioiii and most agrceaibk rcwUnca ia «U Fkni i
anU ita harbour ii lo ooavflnicrit ftir tnMi«» that pcdpla oone
here from a^.parttfof lW« to provide themieketf with neon-
•arki of oil kilids« bringing with them the gold arid tilver
which it wo abundantly procured from the mince of (he other
provinces. For these reason*, and because it is nearly ce»>
teal to Peru, .it has been chosen by his nugesty for the resi-
dence of th^ royal court o( audience* to wmch the inhabitants
of all Peru have to cori^ their kw-suits, by which means it is
to be presumed that thu place will ih time become IJKNra con-
siderable and very populous. Liitia at preaerit, lA50t con-
tains five hundred houses j yet it) larger than akiy ciiy in &iain
of fifteen hundred houses, as the square in the centre of the
town is very large, and aU the streets very wide^ and because
each house has a plot of eighty feet in front by twice that in
depth. The houses likewise are all of one storey, ad the coun-
tiy has no wood fit for joists or flooring^eals^ every kind
which it produces becoming worm-eaten m three years. Tlic
houses, however, are large and magnificent^ and have many
chambers and '■ very convenient apartments. The waUs are
built on botli sides of brick, leaving a hollow between of five
feet, which is filled up with hard-rammed earth % m ^hich
manner the apartments are carried up to a convenient heij^t,
and tlie windows towards the street are raised considerably
above the ground. The stairs leading up are towards the
interior court, and in the open air, teadmg to galleries or
corridors, which serve as passages to the several apartments.
The rooft are formed of some rough timbers, not even hewn
square, which are covered underneath by coloured matts like
those of Almeria, or painted canvas, serving as ceilings, to
conceal these clun^sy joists : and the whole is covered over by
way of roofing with branches of trees with their leaves, which
keep the rooms cool and eii^tually exclude the rays of the
sun. In this climate there is no call for any defence from
rain, which never falls in the plain of Peru.
One hundred and thirty leagues still farther south, is the
city of ViUahermosa de Arequipn, containing about three
hundred houses, in a very healthy situation, abounding in
provisions. Thpngh at twelve leagues distance from the sea^
this place is very conveniently situated for trade, as vessels
can easily import thither by the river Quilca all sorts of £u-
r(^)ean commodities for the supply of the city of Cuzco and
the province of Charcos, which arc much frequented on acr
u. ■ count
OK If.
Pttaf
CHAf . Vi. MCT. I. bjf FrnnetKO Fixarro*
351
(lecct-
tilver
oth«r
f oen-
B nsi-
i>itants
Dtitit
wcon-
)f con*-
(Spain
of the
lecausc
that in
9 coun-
y kind
». The
e many
alls are
lof fiw
I %hich
^(
iera>ly
rds the
eriet or
rtmonts.
snhewn
attslike
ingst to
over bv
, which
of the
ce from
is the
ut three
ding in
the sea,
of Eu-
zco and
ion acr
count
count of the mines of Poto*i and Porco i and from whence
large quantities of silver are carried to Areouipa, to be trans-
ported by Sep to Lima and Panama, wbicn sa^es a T^st ex-
pence and riitk of land-carriage ) now become more difficult
since hik miyesty baa forbidden those heavy burdens upon the
Indians by which they were formerly oppressed. From this
city we travel ^ur hundred leagues by land along tb^ coast
of the South Sea to the province of Chili, which was disco*
vered and in part colonized by tlie governor Pedro c(e Valdi-
bia, or Baldivia. In the language of the Indians the word
Chili signifies ooM ; and it was ao nnmed Dy the Peruvians
because of the terribly cold mountains which were necessary
to be passed on the way thither from Pern, as will be particular-
ly mentioned when we come to detail the perilous enterprizc
undertaken by Don Diego de Almagro when he marched to
discover that distant country. S^ch is a rapid view of that
portion of 'Peru which is called Me j)/am; to which must be
added that the sea olong its entire coast is always smooth and
tranquil, from which it has been called the Fac\fic Ocean,
being never vexed with storms, or disturbed by high and
low tides ) so that vessels can everywhere ride in pcrrect se-
curity at single anchor.
■ t Those Indians who inhabit tlte mountainous regions of Pe-
ru are entirely different from the inhabitants of the plain,
whom they vastly exceed in strength, courage, and mental
abilities. They live in a much less savage manner, bavins
houses covered with earth, and being clothed in shirts and
mantles made from the wool of their sheep * ' ; but their only
head-dress conhibts in a species of bands or fillets. The women
wear a species of vestments like shifts without sleeves, and
gird their waists with several turns of a woollen girdle, which
give them a neat and handsome shape ; covering their shoul-
ders with a mantle or plaid of woollen cloth like a large nap-
kin, which they fix round the neck with a large skewer or pm
of silver or gold called iopos in their language, with large
broad heads, the edges of which are sharpened so as to serve
in some measure the puiposes of a knife. These women give
great assistance to their husbands in all the labours belonging
to ^husbandry and household affairs, or rather these things
fall entirely to their lot. Their complexions are much fair-
er, and their countenances, manners, and whole appearance,
are
"*' 9\ The wool-beving animals of Peru, impiYiperly fiamed sheep, are on|
or other of the species of camel already mentioned in a former note. — E. ''*
i
952
Coiiqtust of Peru
PART II. toon lit
)
■.' *
ll
ore craatf^ inperior in all re$pecti to the natives of the plain.
Thiar countries liiiewiHe dift«r entirdy t as instead of the ste^
rile sands which are everywhere interspersed over the plain,
the mountain is covered through its whole extent with ver>
dure, and is everywhere furnished with rivulets and springs
of fine waterj which toite to form the torrents and river»
which descend so impetuously into the plain country. The
fields are everywhere full of flow^s and plants of infinite va-
rieties, among which are many species like the plants which
grow in Spain { such as cresse<;; lettuce, succory, sorrel, ver->
vain, and others ; and vast quantities of wild mulberries, and
other fruit-bearing shrubs are found everywhere. There is
OP articular plant with yellow flowers, having leaves like
*'\^. if of celery, of most admirable virtues. If applied to the
must putrid sore, it makes it quite clean and sweet in a short
time; buiif laid upon a sound place it soon eats to the
very bone. There are many fruit-trees in this country of va-^
rious kinds, carrying abundant crops of fmit as good as those
of Spain without having the smallest care taken of them.
' There are great numbers of sheep in the mountainous re"
gion, part of which are domesticated by the Indians, but vast
numbers of them are wild ; likewise abundance of deer and
roes, many foxes and other smaller animals. The natives of-
ten have public hunts of these r.nimals, which they call chaco,
in which they take great delight. Four or five thousand na-
tives, more or less according to the population of the district,
assemble together, and enclose two or three leagues of coun-
try by fbnrimg a circle, in which at first thev are at consider-
aole distances from each other, and by gradually contracting
their circle, beating the bushes, and singing certain songs ap-
propriated to the occasion, they drive all the animals oievery
kind before them to an appointed place in the centre. The
whole company at length join in a small circle, holding each
other by the hands, and hallooing loudly, by which the Deasts
are terrified from endeavouring to break through, and are
easily taken in nets or even by the hand. Even partridges,
hawks, and other birds, are often so astonished by the loud
cries of the hunters as to fall down in the circle and allow
themselves to be taken. In thes<; mountains there are lions
or pumas f black bears, wild cats of several kinds, and many
species of apes and monkeys. The principal birds, both of
the plain and the mountain, are eagles, pigeons, turtle»doves,
{^lovers, quails, parroqucts, falcons^ owls, geeae, white and
: - --.-^ •■ .,i u ^ ;<■: grey
adBadh Ti. iBon n. 1^ gfwieitco BUmro.
US
Oheikmii and ddite watCTf fai<yl|. nitfUtr^Uw pmd «|t|)||r
I df tweiN; idng^ ihwy kinds; of whi<»lUMniTeiy]^^
pianrnffe. Therb is dneluiid Of bifd ysry remwkiMQifqr Its
astdnihlHiw sitiaHnen, not bdiif kbrgd) l^ ft/^liv^bgdii^r fifr
large beetle, whiob howeVer hte semol volry £^ £ni3iei9 m
its tail. Along ibe coast th«»e is a «t«seies of veiy )ai|^ vu}>
ture, the wings of which, w^hen extended* measure. fi^eeUifH^
sixteen palmi from tip io tip. Hiese bink ofte^^nalM prey
of large setds, which thev i^taek wh^n <^ut of ^ivwt^j ;0n
thae ocbasions^ some of the bii^ds bttack the anilna) ;b^Uu4^
others tear out his eyes ) and the rest of the ifiOok tc^ hlfli
on all sides with their beaks^ till at (enath they Jcill b^ a«d
tear him to pieces. Upon the doast or the i^Uth SeA (bfire
are greht< numbers of Inrds named4i/ai/7v^» flomevthat lik0<){ir
ordinary poultry in shape, but so lar^e that ^eftch individual
may contain three pecks t^. grain in it» crdp* lliefte birnilp
feed mostly on fish which they batdi iathe s^, yet.a^e fond
of carrion, which they go in search of thirty or ifiafty teaigueli
inland The flesh of these birds stinks tndat i^»onu9ably,i jnt
somuch that some persons wiio have been kkiveO to U»e ne-
cessity oi eating it have died, as if poisoned*: ;; raft; '»dj yi/
It has been already said, Uiatraih, hail^ andiiluitiF) fallrdA
the mountainous region of Peru, where in mmy placebitis
Intensely cold^ But in mahy parts of t^trettion tbeite itre
deep valleys in which tb^ ur is so,' hot,, that uie inhf^bitants
have to use .ario^s -contrivance^ to defend theosselves from
the excessive heat. In these vallios theire is aa : hdrb . c{ill«d
eocOf which is held in very high estimation by t*i6 natives :
Its leaf resembles that of the sttmack^ add the Indians haye
learnt from experience that^ by keeping ia Jeaf of that plluot
in their mouth they can prevent themselves for a long ti^e
from feelinff eitfa«r hunger or thirst. In many parts of the
mountun there is no wood, so that travellers in thoM parts
are obliged to use a species of earth Which is folind there for
the purpose of fuel, and whidt bums very much like turf or
pents. In the mountains then; ^ve veins of eai th -^f various
colours, and minos both of gdd tad sUver, in which the na«
tives a:« exceedingly con vci'saiit, ip.nd are even able to melt and
purity these metius with less labour and expence than the
Christians. For this pu^^xifie they construct &rnaces in the
mountains, placing always the door of the furnace towards
th'3 south, as the wind blows always from that point. The ores
are put into these furnaces alternately with dried sheeps dung,
VOL. IV. z which
%
It.
854
Conquest of Peru part ii. book it.
t. #
wMed aerres at fuel) and by mean* of the wind the fire is
raised to a sufficient power to melt and purify the metal* In
melting the vast quantities of silver which has been dug from
the mines of Potosi, the furnaces constructed with bellows
werefound quite inefficient, while these furnaces, named guaif-
ras by the Indians, which signifies wind-'himaces, answered
thepurp<Me eflPectually.
/ The soil is everrwhere extremely fertile, and ffives abun-
dant returns of all the kinds of grain which are uiere sown ;
insomuch that firom one bushel of seed for the most part an
hundred bushels are reaped, sometimes an hundred and fifl:y,
and even as high as two hundred. The natives employ no
ploughs^ but Iwour the earth with a kind of hoes ; and s^et
their seed into (he ground in holes made with a dibble, or
pointed stick, jnst' as beans are sown in Spain. AH kinds of
pot and gairden herbs grow so luxuriantly that radishes have
been seen at Truxillo as thick as a mans body, yet neither
hard nor stringy. Lettuces, cabbages, and all other vege-*
tables grow with similar Irixuriance : But the seeds of these
must aU be brought from Spain ; as when raised in the coun-
try the produce is' by no means so laroe and fine. The prin<r
Oipal food of the Indians is maize, either roasted or boiled,
which serves them for bread, and venison of various kinds,
which they salt up fw use. They likewise use dried fish, and
several kinds of roots, one of which named yuca resembles
skirret { likewise lupines and many other leguminous veg&r
tables. Instead of wine, they make a fermented liquor from
maize, which they bury in the earth olons with water in
tubs or large jars, where it ferments. In tnis process, b&r
irides the maize in its natural state, a certain quantity of maize
which has been steeped in a particular manner is used as a
fermmt } and there are men and women who are versant in
the manner of steepinff maize, and are hired for this purpose.
"When thn kind of dnnk is made by means of stagnant water,
it is reckoned stronger and better than when ininning water
is used. In the West Indian islands this drink is called chu
cOf but the Peruvian name is azua. It is either white or red,
according to the kind of maize used for its preparation, and
inebriates even more readily than Spanish wine ; yet the In-
dians prefer the latter when it can be procured. They make
another kind of liquor from the fruit of certain trees, which
they call molks t but it is by no means so well liked as azua
•- '? n •' M ^ The
.*.
«HAP. VI. SECT, i, b^ Francisco Pizarro.
355
The 6r8t city of the Christians in the mountain of Peru ie
QfiitOf which is abou: i.>ur degrees to the south of the equa-
tor *•• This city is situated in an agreeable and fertile dis-
trict; and particularly since 1544 and 154 3, when rich mines
of gold were discovered in its neighbourhood, it has become
populous, and continued to increase fast in the numbei' of its
inhabitants ; till in the destructive civil wars its people were
almost entirely cut off by Gonzalo Pizarro and his adherents,
as they favoured the party of the viceroy Blasco Nugnez Ve-
la, who made this place his ordinary residence. The Spa-
niards had no otl>er establishment in the mountain till the dis-
covery of the province of Bracamoras*^^ by the captains,
Juan Porcel and Vergara, who established some small colonies
in these parts, on purpose to continue the discovery asid con-
quest of the interior country ; but these estabiishments have
been since entirely ruined, as Gonzalo Pizarro recalled these
two captains and their men to assist him in his war. This
discovery was made under the orders of the licentiate Vaca
de Castro, who was thin governor of Peru. The Obtain
Porcel was sent by him from S. Miguel de Piura, and Ver-
gara into the province of Ckachapot/as farther to the south ;
but they unexpectedly met each other in the course of their
exploration of the co'intry, and quarrelled about the boun-
daries of their discoveries, in consequence of which they were
recalled by Vaco de Castro, and were at Lima at the comr
mencement of the civil wnr in the service of the viceroy ) and
when he was made pris«>ner tr. entered into the party of
Gonzalo Pizarro. The place which they discovered, called
Bracamoras, is a hundred and sixty leagues from Quito by
way of the mountain ; and eighty leaguejs farther south they
discovered a province nn:i>ed Chachapoyas, where there is a
small Christian town named Levanto **. This province a*
bounds in provisions, and has mines of some value. Its situa-
tion is peculiarly strrnig against an enemy, as it is surround-
ed
*
■ 1
The
SS Instead of/bur degrees, Quito is only the/ourth part of a degree be-
yond the line. — ^E.
23 Bracamoras, or Jaen de Bracamoras, in lat. 5" 30' S. is in the district
-or province of Jaen in the kingdom of New Granada, on one of the branches
of ihe Lauricocha or Tanguragua, which is one of the great rivers which
contribute to form the vast Maranon, or river of the Amazons.—- E.
24 No place ofjthlt name is now found in our best maps. The principal
town of the distriaiqf Chachapoyas has the same name, otherwise called St
Juan de la Frontera.-^E.
> r*'^%.-«■wMV»'^■
) I
956
I*
^Conquest ((fFem fart ii. book ».
ed en all sides by a de^ valley, 'm, which runs a considerable
riyer ; so that by breaking down the bridges* it may be made
very di^cult of access. The Maestre de Campo Alfonseo de
Alvarado, who held the command of this province* establish-
ed a colony of Christians at this place.
Sixty leagues farther to the south* in the district of Guo^nth
co^ Vaco de Castro established a cdony which he ordered to
be called Leon^ as he came from the dtv of that name in
[^>ain. The country of Guanuco is fertile and abounds in
provisions ; and valuable mines are believed to exist on that
aide which is occupied by a warlike and powerful inca In a
movince of the Andes* as shall be mentioned hereafter ''.
Tliere is no other place in the mountains farther south which
has beoi as yet settled by the Christians* tiU we come to the
province of Guamansa, in which is a small town named San
Juab de la Vittoria * * which is sixty leagues from Leon. In
San Juan there fire very few Spaniards, but their number is
caqpected to increase* if the neighbouring inca can be induced
to submit to peace j as he at present occupies the best lands
belonging to that city* in which there are many mines, and
which produces the neib called coca in great abundance, for-
iherly mentioned as of «'eat value. The town of Gnamanga
is aMut eighty leagues from the city of Cuzco ; the road l^"
tween being exceedingly difficult* as it goes over high and
precipitous mountains, and "hrough very dangerous passes.
Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the kings of Peru re-
aided in the city of Cuzco, whence they governed the whole
of this great country of which I have endeavoured to sive
some account, and which will be more particr^arly treated of
in the sequel of this history. This c:ty served as the com-
mon centre tor all the chiefs or caciques of this vast kingdom,
to which they resorted from all quarters, to pay their tributes
to the king* and to obtain justice in case oi disputes among
each other. At that time Cuzco was the only plac^ in aJI
Peru that had the least resemblance to a city. It had even a
strong fortress, built of such enormous dressed stones, that it
was very wonderful to conceive in what manner the Indians
..:..:... . ... .., ■ .. J^ad
I S$ Not far to the south of San Leon de Guanuco, in the ibountainB oiF
Lauricocha, there are considerahle til? ef mines. — ^.
86 No such place is now "ound on our maps in the province of Guaman-
ca ; but the ruitu of a town named VnCoria are hianteid in the diftrict of
Caica, about ^ttf miles north. west ifrom the city of Cuzco. Ferl^pl the Vit-
toria of the text is the town now called Guamanga.— X. '
6MAP. Vf. SECT. t. dy Pramiuo Pizatro»
557
had been able to transport such vas£ masses of stotie without
the aid of any animals of draught In fact some of these are
so large that they would have required ten yokes of oxen to
have dragged them along on a fit carriage. The houses
which are now inhabited by the Spaniards are the same whidi
were formerly occupied by the Indians ; some of which nouses
have been merely repaired and othet^ enlarged by their pre-
sent possessors. This city was formerly oivided into four
quarters, corresponding to the four cardinal points } and by
orders of the IncaSf or sovereigns of Peru* all those native^
who came to the capital were obliged to lodge in the particu-
lar quarter which was towards the direction of the province
from whence they came, under severe penalties. The soiuH
quarter of the city was named CollasugOj from the province
of Collao which lay to the south. The northern quarter was
named Chinca-sugo, from the large and renowned province of
Chirica *' in that direction. The eastern and western quar-
ters were respectively named Ande-sugo and Conde-sugo. The
country about Cuzco is extremely fertile, and abounds in all
kinds of provisions, and the climate is so healthy that the in-
habitants are seldom if ever sick. Around the city there are
many rich mines, whence all the gold which has been hither-
to sent into Spain was procured. These indeed have been
nearly abandoned since th»» discovery of the rich silver mines
of Potosi i both becaui^e much greater profit may be made
from these other mines of silver, and because the working of
these are hr less dangerous both to the Indians and Spaniards
who are there employed.
From the city of Cuzco to that of La PJata in the province
of Charcas, the distance is more than a hundred and fifly
leagues, between which two places there is a large flat pro-
vince i;anied Collao^ above fifly leagues long ; the principal
part of which, named Chiquito^ belongs to his majesty. See-
mg so larse an extent of country unoccupied by the Spaniards,
the licentiate De la Gasca sent some people there in 1545 to
commence an establishment. The city of La Plata is situa-
ted in the coldest part of all the mountainous region of Peru,
and has very few inhabitants, but these are extremely rich,
and spend tne greatest part of the year in the mines otPorco,
and in those of Potosi since their discovery. Towards the
left
37 Probably m country of the people hqw c«lted Chunchot, who are im-
placable msvam to the Spani«rfl^.~£i
\'v
m
Conquest qfPera pabt ii. boor n.
left band or the east from La Plata» a new province wot ex*
plored by Di^^ de Rojoit and Philip Gutierez, by the order
of Vaca de Castro, which was named Ro^as *^ from one of
these captains. It is said to be fertile and abounding in pro-
visions, but they have not found so much riches there as was
expected. Captain Domingo de Ytala and his companions
came by that way into Peru in 1549, having remounted the
Rio Plata fVom the Atlantic Ocean.
Such is the state and situation of all that has been hitherto
discovered of this vust country of Peru, which is chiefly known
along the coast of tbc South Sea, and has not been much
explored in its inhutd parts, on account of the vast quantity
of lofly and rude mountains, by which it is everywhere per-
vaded, and which are extrei^tely difficult to pass; because of
their height and precipitous nature, the excessive cold which
prevails among them, and the scarcity of food. Yet the in-
dustry and courage of the Spaniards would have overcome all
these obstacles, if there were any hope of finding a rich coun-
tiy beyond.
As the Peruvians were ignorant of writing they knew no-
thing respecting the history of the creation and deluge or of
their own origin. They had however some tradition among
them, which had been altered from age to age according to
the fancies of the reciters. They said that there came an-
ciently from the north, a man who had no bones or joints,
and who was able to shorten or lengthen the way before him
as he thought fit, and to elevate or depress the mountains at
his pleasure. By this man the ancient Indians were created ;
and as those of the plain had given him some cause of dis-
pleasure, he rendered their country sterile and sandy as it
now is, and commanded that it should never rain in that dis-
trict ; yet sent them the rivers and torrents which run through
it, that they might have wherewithal to quench their thirst,
lliis person, named Cottf who they allege was son of the sun
and moor, they esteemed and adored as a god, pretending
that he l::td given the herbs and wild fruits as food for the
people whom he had created. After him came another man
from the south, named Pachacamacy or the creator, who was
likewise the son of the sun and moon, but more powerful than
,:» r . ' ■ " ■ ■
28 Prohabljr the province now called Chicas on the eastern side of the
Andes, occupying the head of the river Chirivionas which joins the Paraguay
or Rio Plata.— ■£. - -■ • : -
0
Oif AP. vx. siOT. I. by Francisco PizdrrO,
U9
Con, who disappeared on his arrival, leaving the men whom
he had created without chiefs or laws, and Pachacamac trans-
formed them all into various animals, as birds, cats, bears^
lions, and the like, giving origin in this manner to all the
beasts and birds which are now found in the country. After
this Pachacamac created the present race of Indians, teaching
them the art of labouring the ground for the cultivation of
plants of various kinds for food. Pachacamac is considered
as a god, and all the principal persons among the Peruvians
are desirous of being buried in the province named from him
Pachacamac, as he resided there, which is about four leagues
from the city of Lima*^ They pretended that their god
Pachacamac continued several ages among them, even to the
time of the arrival of the Spaniards, since when he has dis-
appeared. Hence we may presume that he was some demon
by whom they were miserably abused and misled, and who
filled their mmds with so uiany extravagant absurd fables.
The Indians believe likewise, that even before Con and
Pachacamac, there was a great deluge, during which man-
kind saved themselves in great caves in the high mountains,
into which they carried a store of food, shutting up the en-
tries, and carefully filling up all the crevices, to keep out the
water. After a lung while, they sent out some dogs, who re-
turned to them all wet but not dirtied with mud, from which
circumstance ihey concluded that the waters still remained
very high, and they did not venture to leave their caverns till
the dogs came back a second thne all covered with mud.
They allege that great numbers of serpents were engendered
by the moisture left in the earih by this deluge, by which their
ancestors were much distressed for a long time, till they at
length succeeded to extirpate them. From this tradition they
appear to have retained some confused notion of the deluge,
although they were ignorant of the way in which Noah and
seven other persons were saved in the ark to repeople the
whole earth. Perhaps their tradition may refer to some par-
tial deluge, like that of Deucalion.
The have a notion that the world is to come to an end ;
before which there is to be a great drought, when no rain is
to fall for several years. On this account, in former times,
the
29 Off the mouth of the river Lurin, in lat. l«« 26' S. is the ijland 6f
Pachacamac, probably indicating the situation of the ancient provioct •£
that name.— R • w^^- ^ ■■^'^' w-'^ '5
m
CoiVfMlif of Perif
fjaSF n. BOOK Ml
the caciques used to lay up large magazines of mmee to serve
them durinff the long drought. Even yet, the more timid
among the Peruvians tnake a great lamentation when the sun
or nfbon are eclipsed, believing the end of the world to be at
han4 ; e^ they allege that these luminaries are to be extin-
guished .at the destruction of the world.
The Peruvians worship the Sun and Moon as deities, and
ftwear by these luminaries and by the earth, which they eon-
sider as their mother. In their temples they adore certain
fttoiiesy. as representatives of the sun, which they name guacaSf
a word signifyhiff to weep, which they do on entering into
their temples. No perstm is permitted to approach these
guacas except the priests who sacrifiee to these idols, who are
ml clothed m white. When they go up to their idols, the^
carry certain white cloths in their hands, prostrating them-
selves and crawling on the earth, and addressing their idols
in a language' whicn is not understood by any of the natives.
By these pric^is all the ofFerings for the idols are received and
buried in the temples, as the Indian votaries make gifls of
figures in goM Or silver of those things for which they address
their pxayers to the guaca. These priests likewise offer sa>
crifiees of animals and even of men to their gods, searching the
hearts and intrails of the victims for certain signs which they
wish to find, and repeating their abominable sacrifices until
they meet with those signs which they desire ; pretendinj[i; that
the idols are not saftisned by the sacrifices tiU these appcflf >
During all the time that the priests are engaged in sacrific-
ing, they neTer appeci* m public, neither have they any inter-
course with wometty and employ themselves all night in loud
cries, invoking the demons near to the places in which the
fuiacas are kept, which are extremely numerous, as most houses
ave each their own guaca. The priests prepare themselves
for having intercourse with the demons by long fasts, after
which they tie up ^eir eyes and some even carry their super-
stition to such excess as to put out their own eyes. The ca-
ciques and other great men among the Peruvians never un-
dertake any afiRur of importance without having first consulted
the idols, <Nr demor^s rather, by meaor. of the priests.
In the temples of the sun the Spaniards found several large
earthen jars containing the dried bodies of children which had
been sacrificed. Among the figures of gold and silver which
were used as ornaments to the guacas, there were several
which had a strong lesemblance to the mitres ai\d crosiers of
our
I
MfttiMiP
CHAP. n. 8KCT. I. by Francisco Pixarro.
SSI
our bishops, and some of these idol* were fimnd havinff mitro
on their heads. When Thomas de Verianga, bishop of Tierm
Firma travelled throi^h Peru, with his mitre, in which he vat
seen by the Indians celebrating the nuus, they asked if he
was the guaca of the Christians. When asked the reason of
these mitres, they could only say that they had been handed
down from their uicestors. In every part of Peru there wei»
certain houses or monasteries, whit h were inhabited by women
who were consecrated to the sun. Th<?se women never went
out, but were perpetually employed in spinning cotton and
wool, which they wove into ctotb, and then burned along with
the bones of white sheep, throwing the ashes into the air la
honour of the sun. These women were consecrated topers
petual celibacy, and were put to death if found to be with
child, unless they could swear that their child was begotten by
the sun.
Every year, at the season of the maize harvest, the moun-
taineer Peruvians had a solemn festival ; on which occasion
they set up two tall straight trees like masts, on the tqs of
which was placed the fiffttre of a man surrounded by other
figures and adorned with flowers. The inhabitants went in
procession armed with bowo and arrows and regularly mar-
shalled into companies, beating their drums and with great
outcries and rejoicings, each company in succession discnarg-
mst their arrows at the dressed up figure. After which the
pnests set up an idol at the bottom of tne masts, before which
they sacrificed a man or a sheep, sprinkling the idol with the
blood of the victim ; and having inspected the heart and en-
trails of the sacrifice, they reported the signs they had disco-
vered to the p4H>ple, who were sad or rejoiced according as
these were good or bad. The whole of this festival was usu-
ally spent in dancing and drinking, and in various games and
^rts, some of which were warlike exercises, with maces cluba
axes and other arms.
All the caciques and other principal inhabitants of Peru are
reposited after their death in a kind of vaults, clothed in all
their richest dresses, and seated in a kind of chairs which they
name duos. It was customary also to bury ak>ng with them
one or two of their best beloved wives, and on this occasion
the honour was frequently contested among the wives of the
deceased, unless when the husband had previously settled who
were to be chosen to ^accompany him in the tomb. Two or
three youths of their train, and all their gold and silvcr-platc
used
li
t »
['l
7
!)
II
V-
868
Conquest of Peru fabt ii. boojc ii.
used alao to be buried a^:«r.v with them i •!! of which was
done in the hope of one d^y rising again from the dead, und
that they might then appear in proper style, accompanied by
their wives and servants. When the cjpaniards broke up
these sepulchres on purpose to take possession of their burled
treasures, the Peruvians requested of them not to disturb the
bones of the dead, that they might not be hindered in their
resurrection. In the burial ceremony, the relations of the
deceased used to pour some of the liquor formerly mentioned,
named Chica, into the grave, of which a portion was con-
veyed by some hollow canes into the mouth of the dead per-
son. On the top of the tomb or sepulchre, wooden images
were placed, representing the appearance of the deceased {
but on the graves of the lower oixlers, they satisfied them-
selves by some painted emblems of their profession or em-
ployment, more especially if they happened to be warriors.
In all the provinces of Peru there were certain nobles or
principal persons, of whom the chiefs or rulers were named
curacaSf similar in every respect to the caciques of the islands.
As the Spaniards who conquered Peru had been accustomed
to name many things according to the language of Hispaniola
and Cuba, and were at first ignorant of the Peruvian lan-
guage, they continued to employ the terms to which they had
-been accustomed ; and the Peruvians have so far accommo-
dated themselves to this language, especially in speaking to
the Spaniards, that they mostly use these terms. Tlius uey
call those chiefs caciques^ who in their own language are
named euracasy their bread corn and drink, which in the
Peruvian are zara and azuoy they denominate maiz^ and
chicoy which names were brought from the islands oy the
Spaniards. These curacos or caciques were the judges and
protectors of their subjects in peace, and their leaoers in war
against the neighbouring tribes. The whole people of Peru
lived in that manner for many years under a multiplicity of
independent chiefs, having no king or supreme chief; until
at length a warlike nation came from the environs of the great
lake Titicaca named the Incas in the language of Peru.
These men had their heads close shaven, and their ears
pierced, in which they wore large round pendents of gold, by
which their ears were dragged down upon their shoulders, iu
consequence of which they were called ringrimf or the large
'iilft»'j!>7(&» hn:'<' h^i*^ %i': ,
'r*»W:^--^siMi4
■»cw^--
fi-*-
- ■•m^.,'%- .
OUAT. VI. SECT. I. hjf Franeisco Pitarto,
369
vars. Their chief wai called ZapaUa Inca ^*>, or the only
kina { thouoh others say that he was named Inca Vira cocka,
or toe king Trom the scum of the lake, because the astonidi-
ed natives, not knowing the origin of their invaders, believed
that they had started into existence from the scum or mud of
the great lake« This great lake of Titicaca is about eighty
leagues in circumference, from which a large river runs to
the southwards, in some places is half a league in
breadth, and wi 4inrsre8 its waters into a small lake
about forty leagu ;reat lake, which has no outlet.
This circun)8tanc4 astonishment to many, who are
unable to comprei. uu lit v so vast a body of water nhould
disappear in so small a rciiervoir. As this smaller lake ap-
pears to have no bottom, some conceive that it discharge*
Itself into the sea by some subterranean commiuication, like
the river Alpheeus in Greece<
These Incas established themselves in the first place at
Cuzco, from whence they gradually extended their sway over
the whole of Peru, which became tributary to them. The
empire of the Incas descended in successive order, but not by
immediate hereditary rules. On the death of a king, he was
succeeded by his immediately younger brother j and on his
demise the eldest son of the preceding king was called to the
throne ; so as always to have on the throne a prince of full
age. The royal ornament worn by the supreme Inca in
place of a crown or diadem, consisted in a fringe of coloured
worsted from one temple to the other, reaching almost, to the
eyes. He governed their extensive empire with much gran-
■i (leur and absolute power ; and perhaps there never was a coun*
try in the world where the sul^ects were so submissive and<^)e-
dient. They had only to place a single thread drawn from
their diadem in the hands of one of the rittgrim or great ears,
by which he communicated to this deputy the most absolute
delegation of power, which was reelected and obeyed over
the whole empire. Alone, and without troops or attendants,
- the message or order which he carried was instantly obeyed,
were it even to lay waste a whole province, and to extermi-
nate every one of its inhabitants ; as on the sight of this
thread from the royal fillet, every one offered themselves vo-
luntarily to death, without a single murmur or the slightest
resistance.
■htm-t'timA.' ,^fe^^»t.rt.#-&mt «##te?w(iC -4" In
30 The first of the Incas is named by Robertson, U. S90. and III. 47.
Manco Capac— E.
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ConquMi ofPieru PAEt ft. aook ih
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m-
In ttiflMfbie iiientioaed««vl«r d^t«eJBiMdMii tli« empire of
tlM inoat iUi in •pracei* of tfrne to • ai>verdgti named Hittnia
&ift» >S wllidi-eigirifiet the yeong rich iliaki. Tbif pttnoe
iiMKte'«liEM>eoHqaeMa, Mid AugideiitMthe eiitpii« matii ttkif
mdmnSkf thtta h«d>faeeii done %f injr one of Itts prMteeeaadri.
apifvlM over thowliolc tnora reaKtoiblv and with miter
jaitioo and twiity than hMl' ever been done by the lomief
govenigm. ti* estaiifiihed' overjwiieiP» the inoi^ perfect
p<dwt^ and exact rules for cultivating the ear& ; ruKng and
governing among a batbarous and ignorant natioti'witti the
most Mir^<inrig oeAtir and justice ; and the love and obediencie
of his subjects was e^udly wondetfo) and perfect. They gave
Mfa a si(^ proof otdiis,wordiy of being mentioned, in the
eonstniction of two roads through the wnole esctent of Bfeni
for bis more convement travelling ; of which die difficulty
labour and expence equal or even surpass aH that the ahdents
have wrjtten of the seven wonders of the world. Huana Ca-
pacy ifk marching from Guzob to conquer the kingdom of
^ttto, bad tomarch five hundred leagues by the niountiuna,
where be had eveiywhere to «ncounter excesuve difficuMn,
froBT'bad ffeiilSf-rodni precipices and ravftte^i almost imprao-
tiMble in many places. ASvet he had succnsfnlly exeeutod
this great -enterptiiEe» l^ the conquest and sidnnission of
Quito and its depradencies, his subjects conceived that it was
inicumbent on them to do honour to his Tictorious career, by
{wnoMrii^ a oonmiodious road for his triumphant return ito
CWMO. Hiey accordingly undertook, and executed by pn>>
dkious labour, a broad and eosv road through the mountains
orfive hundred foagues in lengdri, in the course of which thef
had often to dw away vast rocks, and to fill up valleys aikt
predpioesof thirty to forty yards in depth. It is said that
this read, when first made, was so smooth and level that it
wooM have admitted a cOach with Uie utmost ease throtu^
its whde lengUy t but since that time it has sui^red great i^-
juiiest especially during die wars between the S^ianttrdi mnd
the Peruvians, haviiiff been brok^ up in many j^aces, on
purpose to obstruct the invasion of the enemy. The gran-
dmir and difficulty of this vast undertaking may be rradily
conceived, by cmisidering the labour and cost whidi has beeil
expcvided
SI By Zarate this Inca it naiAcdOuaynacava, but the more general name
uied by Gwctlano de la Vega and other Spanish writers, and nom them by
the iUwtriout Robertsoa, is adopted in this transUtioo«-'£.
2i3***L:_i
>..«i*»e.y
■l/'-'-'S^
ire of
ft^
inhOB
i'corti-
mbr^
bnner
ierfect
01 the
dieil^ie
iygave
in the
rPfehi
ffieiilty
nci^ts
nft€a-
lorn of
ntftina,
CttltlB8>
cecuted
uon of
tit was
eer, by
turn to
)y pKw
antaini
^the^
ys and
id that
that it
ro1#^^
lianrif
oh
gran-
jfeadily
beei
)cnded
[name
khem by
cpf4V. fc|. 9S0T. h Inf ]^,wmteo Piaarro,
9$5
fxp^nM Wk Spm .tjt> kvfi) only two lefegmi of » laowitaitt
tqi4)M^imea Stago^mmA 0«ildit«ugM^«iid>i>Mcb«IUraU
li«»#^«r been Jiiro|i|^l tO'a|^4fMr«ttQ|!|»«vfeeti0n« lOthoagh
d|«ji«4«l,pMM^ of the iking anCirtmi^ ob trHftolKng to or
Boam Avmiiuw or the )Un^m of Toledo Not sn^iifiiid
wi^ tM») 4ln* aWonii^ing lafiout , the Ftoruvian» soon i^er-
WME(i|!)^^w>4«rtoo|c«oDtber of a similar and no kss gvtad nid
difficq)lkipd« HuanaCi^McwasfoodofvisitinftbelmigtlQiil
of Quito which he had conquered, and proposed toi.toavri
thimkv fKfa jCttsoo by wa^ <^ the j^afai, i6 a» to i^t tiie
ifhole.0f his ent^site donunions. jPik hit aoQottunodirtidli
li^wiie, his siiUeets undertook to laake a load idN> in 1^
pkfiHi«{:iiatd ^ tins purpose they comtructcd high inonndsief
eprtb across aUthtpsmiUlvallieftforiBed hy the Varioub rivers
«nd.tocrents wfaieh doNsend from the lDMNH}tain» tiiat tholoMi
mi^t, be everywhere «aiooth and kv<^ Tins road wm neat
forty (bet, wide» and wher^ it erosled the sandy heightftwln^
inteirvtne betwijit the verdant Va8i«s of .the tMrtrentil^ it was
marked <m each' side b^ stakes, fofcniin|^ P*tfogs in stra%htliiKk
tof^eiitany <niek)ungthe Way. This ro^dtwas fiVe h^red
lec^^nea in )a^^ lifcb tMt of the motantain * but the pnlingi
are nbwwaiatiflig iA mAny plaoes^ t|ke woeid of whkji they
wer«) cWistrm^tedrhAving been used bv the Spaniar^'fai> ftm
duHnf d^e ;War i . but thie mounds stiU exist acxbss the vpdiies^
and most of them are yet tolerably entire, by which the
grandeur of the entire Woric m^'be judgedi of. In his jo^-
neysito andirom Quito, .Huana Capac used to go by onevof
these roads and Ketum. by the other i and during Im irinfe
joomey his sulyeicti used, to strew the .vfgy with braarlw- and
flOwtts «^'.th6, richest periume. ■ •io{HK-»wWi--j^'W#..*r <*«'t|^ -
. , Berides the two great ronds dreikdy mentioned, Hdana
Capac ordered to M. built on the moimtain road a number
of liOge .palaces, ati the distance, of a . days jJMmey fifota
eaidi oUiert baring: a prodigious number bf ^partmentt^
sw^cient to lodge his own peiional suite and idl hb army.
Such were lik^ifee built akmg the road in the {Jairij but
not, lo numerous or so near each other as on the moun^
tain road, as these palaces of the plain had all to be placed
on the sides of the rivers for convenience and the procure-
ment of -provisions and othw necessaries ) so that they were
in some phtces eight or ten leagues distant from each other.
And Jh|<pierpl<u?eififi(efen or twenty ^lei^es. These build-
fi»
Cenqtieti ^Peru Hut ii. BOdKkti
{^'^
faigiiNM named ioMAot, and 'tlte irtishbottriiig bidiim^«f^i«
bMMid to ftnmuh -Mdi <tf tlMM with providoiis aid evtfy
tiiiiig «be thiit ntehcbeirafited finr tb« royal arniai i ium*^
muen dial in< aacn of thew tem&M, in caie of hartiihUyj
dotlihig anil ara» onvld be had for twenty or tldn^ tlMB#^
and men. HuanaO^pao wai alwajw^NMMiJd l^ a eolilidlifU
able bodyofeoldierai airuMd wilhhmMiy balbens, maote, and
battle axe^ nuaieof «UWap or ooppo^ and idme of diem even
f bv their aimie*, beildet tkese arms* die' Peravhuii nied
dhigtf and javriint ha<i^g their points bardoied in die AN;.
On mch parts of their rivers as fimUihed n^ateriiils for die
parpose, diey built wooden bti(%et| ttid wbwre timber oonld
not be hadi th^ streitdMd i^roHS the sttenm- two large cMm
madobf a plant n«n«d amigiMfy/ forming a hind of net work
between ditte of- sptaller ropes and mwts^ strong enough to
Answer dM purpose of a bridge In diis manner thM^ con*>
■tnicted bridges of a surprismg mpgnitHde} some ^thcsn
Mng ilrir^ yards broad and icnt^ hundl^ yards Ions '^ In
•nch^piaoes as dU notadmit of theeonstriHstifMl ofltti48(i*i
dicy passed over riven>b>y means of a eaUe 0#^^i6k>repe ex*
toidfid hom side to-side^^ on which they huQji;' a hurge'Msket»
hwhids was drawn over bf means of a smi^rrc^ ' AH diete
bridges were kept in repair by the inhdbitants of the districts
jn'f^ich they stood. < < '
I ' l%e kmg of Peru was alwava Carried ' ^ species of Utter
icovered bver with plates of gold, and w tended by tddre
than a thousand of the prineipal native ki^^^iesi who relieved
Mch other in earryungtho royal' Ktter on dteir «houkien. '> iAU
these men were counwllors, prindpal oflBcers of the household j^
or fiKi^urites of the fiirince. The caciquet 9t oiiracas ci the
diffiwent :pio«4noea ! were likewise oarriod' in Utters on the
ahonlderst of : their> vassals. Tiie Peruvians were exceedingly
aubmissivf to idieir> sovereigns^ insomuch, that even the most
powerfol! lord dwaya cnl^nBd< tbe presence barefooted, and
carrying some prment wrapped^ up in a dodi, as a martc of
homage j and even if <ime pcmon nadoccaskm to go an hund-
..■■'■■ * • - 'red
V (
at OskqIsmo de k Vtg», p. es, detcribnthe bridg* ofsr dM Apurlmac
not far. from Cuico, u «\>out tyro biuidrtd pacw iii> length. H* My ft thst its
lloor coniiited of three great cable* $m thick m the hooyof s mil) »,iumaj(
another cd)le on each ride, a little raited, to lerVe ai nuia; The t^ hun-
dred toUe* or four hundred yardi of the text seem an exaggeration ; perhaps
a nuitake of the French trantlator."-£.
Ir'
fommiMU gECXiU fy FramUca PiMurro*
m
m ereti
for th6
er ooald
let work
MigH to
of dwm
3* In
Vo)p^ex-
^tMBk6i«
AiltlMie
of-ttin»
by t^ore
T«U«ved
lert« ' All
lielioM^
„ of the
^ on th6
oeedingly
thenMMt
said
mB A of
in hund-
red
lApittlmtt
luypthptltt
twenun-
1 ; perhap*
icd tiBMiiiioiie dag^lo ipefk «o the l^Bg^Uiej^raiMiit hadto
be jriepttud 'mof^mm he weafa To wok ihe lung in the
.fiulb wMioonndoedas it criniipi^idiMMyiCt|> and if any one
•hfwdd hapfMn cfaa> atunible .whil»eaRyiBg4lM< foyal- litter, so
«« 'tm make it iSu, Ul head waaimwecHatwIyqit off Af^^cyeiy
halC league on:,tho fniUic road* throu^^iottt the whd* (empire,
tliaite new, In^hwpa ii^ cwMtant attendance to rdicve each Othir
in.ofrryinir disiiatchei, which tb^ did iwifter than our post
hon^.' iWhen aqy province or district was subdu^, the iMt-
ti^ ^fthe pkoe^ or at least all their chiefr and principal peo-
ple^ wcfeimme^ately removed toOthor parts OT the empire
and witives frmn other places which had beMi long sul^eoted
wenetestto, occup|i the new conquest, by which meaM the
fidfditjr and submission of the whole woretsccured. From every
proviniice.of the empir%^ yearly tributes of the sevend fntidtto-
Uons, <tf their respective countries were sent to the king y and
even some Merile districts above three hnndred>leagaes distMit
from Cusoo, had to send vearly a number of lisarwLas a mwurk
o( their., submiauon, having nothix^ of any value to soul.
HuaOA Gqpacirid^uilt the temple; oTf he stm at Cuaoo^ and
covered over all the walls and the roof of that structure with
plates of gold and silver. During his reign, one Chinioca|>>
pa^ who was curaca <^r prince of a large district in the plain,
above a hundred leagues in lei^oth^ chose to erect the stand-
ard of rebeliion ) but Huana Uapac marched against him in
person^ defeated him in battle^ and put him to death { after
whicdb he commondedthat the Indian»of the plain dkouldnot
be permitted to carry aites. Yet he allowed the stm and suo^
ceiipor of Oiimpcamia to. remain in the province of (Skimot in
which the ci^ of TniriUo has been since built.
Pern was astonishiuj^ly full of those animals called sheep j
aaHuana Cspac and ]his predeoe9K)ra had established laws for
thor muIUpUoation.and ^servation.. Eva-^ year a certain
proportioii of these anupabbdoiiging to in^vidnals were set
apart as. a kind of ^ythe or taring to the sun, and tliese con*
secrated animals unultiplied jpreatly, no person bem^ allowed
to it^ure them under pain ofsacrif^e, except the prince onfy^
for his owtt; iim or that of his army. On such occasiims, he
gave orders for onecrf* these hunts called ckacost formerly
mentioned^ at some of which twenty or thirty tibausand sheqi
haye been taken at one tiroe.> Odd was in great request
am(»(g the* Peruvians, as the king and all the principal per^
sons of the empiise used it for the construction of vessel's for
CoHquea ^Peni wabx u. bo«k vi.
VH
i«t
dlbeiiiigddbk; IlkeJEiAgM cvw^iAtra cipiied aloDg^w^
4bMD<« wild of opiidijoi J4bJ»idf of uariwa cwmi IIwI,
on vlil«tijM«i«d|« tltk tnd irhvlk itrmirortli «4i^id««ito
«f ilWKlanl g«U. TliM w» GhoMn h^ Dbn WneUeoFlHaw
i% «| tli6 Uflia of duB loaqiiMt^ in ooknef ncboB of la i
mimt, by^ wUdb M «m MieriaHl «• afipirapriktei miim
f»w€l or Taltaabl«)Mtid*ilo hii (Mil .ii««|' 1^^ Idir
^bdif cf thrpliiiider. ; 'Whim thecUat^aqo of Httias
:ir«i bomtjhii icird*0d;» OMidigioiM duda f>r«rt|» (if '&
WiiMidi^jK^ lame jMidi li«w^ that tirp hahdml iMn vnttt
iHUroll^ able 16 life k. In r»itwMwhraki«w>. rf f hia ^i»^i|*i^flb^^
Ihe jofant ira* tuuncfd ^iAiaccar^ which iigni^ei a cafafeor huwe
rape^ asttic Feruviaaa havit no word in their kuoaHoe ii^^-
^fyuig a. chain. . Tolhianaiheof HiiascarwaaaMed^lhi^aiir-
lBMne Inai, belonging tadl their Idnfli^ jus^ ai AoiUMui wtii
m/reA to all the Romad cnberars. niatmk OaiMle had iet^ral
Mige mMBBina fiill of {pda in variom di^pea, meh ki thb
jBjI^et.DtnMn and women) (rf'aheq> aikd aniraab of all l^d^
JnmI pf all thekitods ofplintt which ake found in ths cottnby,
^«<Manitel«nBpta«enteL, j^e had also fgt^ ^iiantitlet of
Jirettments of varioaa kiwis, and niany H^g^ In whtdi the
fidiric was mixed with gold threads i and rouiy ban tif gi^Id
■And lilf^ made like biuets of fir^ wood.
iu Allhottrii the main oUect of this histbrv is to relate the
g^jjtaoi^h jDiscovery and Conquest of Fera^ it sefems proper to
aifhin iiM:iBilrcum8tanoe8 under which they fanmd ttie nUirs
of that empire at their arrival { by which we shall have ocoa-
«K>n to adinire the wisddm of Providenoej, in permitting thit
enteqpriae to takie i^lace at a time i^i«B thtit vasjt Mmhtrjr ^
dividid into two hostile parties, ilrhidi graatly ftdtttMed' the
conquastt Jl^ft^; Hoana Capac had ndwsd *^^ lMid«l^deB
tosumnissian, to the extent of five faundfvdIojittnM nxM^
he undertook in person to make the'oon^pMSt wthe kingdom of
Quito* whiehbomdedwith^e&bpireiiitliienon&'^west. Hav-
ing sUooesafulIy aoei^nplisluidthat ^[reat iMMermiie^ fiikh^ the
cbuntiy exceediiufy pleaiahti he eoot^ittiea to vihiiie were
for a Im^ while, ^ving at Guaobserend ofh^ehildmiyboth
amis and danghtehh amona iHrhmn Wen his iMest ibn Huaa-
car Inca, Manco Inca, Paw Inca, and tovtval others. While
at QuitO) he took to wUe the <Iaughtcr of the fdMntir Jbfd of
that ooimtiy, by whom he hid a son named Atld^tilAftl »r
Atabatipa, of whom he was very iotid*' and whotiihiB^ left to
..*. , .be
•«*••- ■*!">«
be tdiifattd in Quito what he iMnmedto Cuaeo. Aftet t^
•Idii^^ fiw Mne yeert in Ciiieo, he made ft Jovn^ faMk t#
QiOlo, ptttly beddiie he deHghtfed in tfaftt oomitrjF which he
hiicl rabducd, aiid partly ftota AlfeelibBforhi* uxfk AtabiialM#
whom he loVed more than all the mt of hb chikNa. He
continued to reside in Quito all the rest of hli liie i «m1 at hii
deadi, he bequeathed the kingdom of Quito to Atahuatoa '^
whidk had bdonged to his maternal ancestors. On his oeath^
Atahualpa secur^ the affection of the artny, and ffot posscar
sion of all the treasure which his &ther had in Qu:to» but
the far greater prqx>rtion of the trrasure remained in Cusco*
as too heayv for transportation, and aceordingly fell to Hn^
car* the c^est son;
Alfthttsilba sent ambassadors to his i^est brother Huftscar,
inforndng nim of the death of thar fiither* and assurinff him
of hisbyalty atid obedience ; yet requesting that he mimt be
permitted to retain the command ot the kingdom of QoitOy
the conquest of his father } which he alleged was beyond the
limilB of the Peruvian empire, and ought not therefore to foli>
low the ordinarv rules of primogeniture, more especially as
Atahualpa was the legitimate heir of that country m right of
his mother and grana&theri Huascar sent back for answer*
that if At|ihua^ would come to Cuzco and jrive up the
am^i he should receive lands and possessions su£ncientto cn^
able him to live according to his rank } but that he would on
iio aecouut give up Quito, a frontier province <tf Ae empire*
where of course he. must keep up a body of troqps for the
defenee of the whole* Huaa^ added, that if Atahualpa
refused submission to these conditions^ he would march in per>
son against him as a deciared enemy. On receiving this mee*
sage, Atahualpa consulted two of his fathers princij^ officers,
Quis-quiaand Cilicuchima, brave and expcrienoed warriors,
who -advised him not to wait the invasion of his Inrother, but to
take ihefidd without delayand march against him } as the army
which was under his orders was sufficient to enaUe him to ac*
quire the whple provinces of the empire, and would increase on
tne march: by means of the provinces which intervened be-
tween Quito and Cysco. Audiualpa followed Uiis advice Mid
sradually^iade himself master of the cotantry through i^hicti
ne marchedi Huascar, on hearing of the hostile procecd-
voi« IV* A a. ings
3S Thk pr^ it teUed Atabalibs tiy Zmte, and AtabaUpa bv MinA
oUwr writan, but wshj^ve chown. to UlOmw the iltaitriMU hUtoriaa af Ariut«
rict in faamiris him Anutualpa.— E.
«T0 4!Mflklt^Pmi' VART ir. BOOK Ift. '
inn <Jf Mi brdtW, atnt fOiiM KgM-flnMd'troo|^ agniMi hita. ^
Tm MmmmdMr of thaw trodm advafieed to lb* pvotmct'of
l^itnibMiftttibomahiindrdtMgtteifWimQiiitoi MMllMni*
ing tlMM A*htiali» iMd Minn the fleMi he lent « courier to
Ctisoo illlli notioe Of the state of the affliin, and to ttMieat
that he aaiffht hi Ibmkihed iiltb two theuwnd offloera of ix^
peifoRoei oymMuMOfNirhomhe oouM arm thirnr thOiwilid
men of ttie ivirliki itrovHiOB etSM Cdgnnret whicn reniained
in aUegianoe 10 HoMlBar. Theie two thousand experieneed
warriora were'iiiMedtat^ aent, by whoae n«biii| alid\iritk
aMittanoe of the^ttrteai or Tmnibamba, ChafMlMi, Pidtas*
and t>i«iarea **, In diat ndgfabonrhood, Humcarft general
wai enabled to coDect a formidable army. Atahtt^M march-
ed aa^tinift this army, wfth ndiom he foiwht a battle whidi^hwt-
ed oirce days, hi which he was at last defeated uid made pri-
sonert in attempting to eseafie by the bridge of Tamibamimi.
WMetiie army of HiwMar was celebrettng their intetoiy
with great feasts and rAAdngt, Ataiiualpa con^ved to escape
iVt»m the tambot &t paisce ^ Tumlbamba ill which he<wa»
ooWkillied, by d^ng ^woaoh a very thick wall with a bHr of
cOMM^f itrhidiwpi^ffed mmi a woman. He returned im-
nMiitety fd Qtftc^ irhere he collected the remidns Of his
defeated ftiiny; to whom h6 represented that his fhtiief bad
chftngi^ him lilto a serpent!, by which means hehsMibeen «il>
ablra to escape froM lis prison through a small hole) and
thit bffe fether had assured him of ceitkin victonr, if they
woak^THtmi along:' with him against the enemy. His troops
wel%lK> ttftt^ encoiHraged by Ibis stratasem, that they ibl-
lowed hiin 'irith great tooage, beMeving themselves invincible
under theprOtecti<m of Huano Capilc. He agi^ attacked the
anhy of Hotticai', wbleh in this §ecOnd battf^VaS entirdly^de-
Iciited; Such numbers were slain on both sides in these wo
bitdey, ihiit iii¥ent6 this day' Uu^ quentitiei of hnman binncs
remainiiif ^pll^^htt^^they #iere fought In pursuit of his
viMoiy, Aliliiflflpa nMrehed into the provinoes which adlbed
to his brother^ #hieh he destroyed with fiiri> and sword. H|
entirety destroy tb^ great city of INitaibiimba, which stood
on a pl&ih waters bjrihree greatb rivers. In pttrsiiiii|^ his
4i9nJ|neM,
S4 "niew names are not to be foanil in our best modem mapa'sf-Ftni c
but tome oth^qan^et not unlike, as Mapbamba,, Chachapoyasi Pvtai, and
Caxanparca, are-b thii t)restnt>sh(ifiric of Tra»llb» the tamnonlma in
Peru proper» and tlierenre likely tohavfe been the seat of war igainitllki ni^
rokcrs in Quito.— £. * ' ;^ , . * .
cMii^ VI. Mem t. ^ Jhmmeo Piaihroi
5*ti
» oMitw «iMm«w h* net with reMtaooe
bl uiwiltJ MiOT«Bd piMt |0 aH^apsli iiiMBkli«M»Mhiilled
qMMltjr to hb Mthorityi obU^agfltt"** wi^tsmto jda his
lurmy, which by thoM >aMta» iprtanndi iwMhiiiilly «i^ he
•dTanoed. On arrivinff at Tumba he was cMront to take
iioflBenion of the uJand of PIhi% but as the euttiM of that
uland defended himself oourageously, AtahwdpA ^ not
thudi.k pmideiM: to waste much time in the attemtHy Inova ei^
pecially as he bod intdligence of the iq[q[)roach of Huascar
wiU| 9 muneiiDiis nvmy ( for whiek leaiMi he cdntintt(6d his
ONHteh towards Cuaooi and arrived at GwuMurtt«» wiMra. he
established his head^-qijartors. From this phaBO be duaehed
two oC his principal officers at the head of two or tbiM tho«a>
and Uifht armed troops, with. ordars< to reemMBoilire the army
of thoenemry and tobring him word of their iwnfaesa iiMi si^
tuation* When ihis^ party had arrived at norsfraik dtslMoe
from the camp of the enemyi they qaitted the <m«ct>Ml|d and
anade a ctratit among the woods and moantam^ > to picvcot
the enemy from discovering them. Procurinjip intHt^jtnee
■that Hnascar had retired to a-j^ecikt'seme disttnee'ft^mi his
camp, attended by seven hundred <if hitpriAcipol offioeitand
noUes, en purpose to avoid the oneise aad^ oonfosim oif-his
areat army* they attacked his quarters by eorprise^ easih"'de>
mated his small escort, and made him pri#oner. ^WHim en-
deavouring to make good thor retreat to the eampof Atahu-
dpa with their great prise* th^ were Mrromdsd on every
aide fay the vast army ofthe memy, whidi coidd easily havei
exterminated them* being at least thir^ to one. BnC' the
oommandsrs of this fortunate detaehment, immedf t %> idid
I^husaur that they would put him tO'deaA* if JMi^d^^ iot in-
stantly ffive orders to his army to retires and-^ the sami»tiine
assured nim Ihi^ his bvolbev Atahua^pahadno forther desire
than tobe- permitted to enjoy die kiajgdom of Qmto in pence,
i^ wAnek w would do honage to hiir ae his Mng and loid.
fJUuMcai^ terrified liy dtepkospect of tkai^ uid believrng^dieir
prmnise. of restoration to liberty and dominion, issued peremp-
tory otders.to his armv to desist trom their hHMded attedc and
to retam to Cuzco, whidh they did according ; and the Ata-
hualpan officers carried Huascar a prisoner to Caxamarca,
where they defivercd him «q> to their master. That Were the af-
£dn of Peru situated when Don Francisco Pifttirro arrived in
thateotintvy wfth thel^Moiards} whichocmjunclurewaaexceed-''
iiigly jbvpurable to his views of conquest, of which we riiall
S7S
CoitfMti ^ F$m 9Un ii. book tu
|rivt an MOo«nt ki the next nctiont at the great army of
Hoiietv wfli eaiirely dknerMd, and Atahnalpa had diunkiid
aiwat'pteporUop of bia troofM* after thii furtunale eventf
whieh had placed hb enemy in hia handi^.'
!i»)
Qf lAe Fenwimt Hi$toiy h^unika arrhal oftkt Spamiturit *'.
^>*«'Peni, like therait of the New WorM^ waa eriginaSy poa^
•eased by inudl independent tribea,. difiering frcM each ettMn
(lannerai and in theivfonni of rude policy* Allk however,
yyeee an Htlle eifiHaedt that, if the traditione conoeminff tbdv
mode< of Kfbi piewmed among theiy deaeendanta, deaanre
cndil, Aay mnal be dened among the mett uninqproved i»>
wagea of Amerieeb Strangen to everv tpeciea of cukiTatimi
or rignlar induitryy wilkevt any fixed vnidenee, and unac-
cuiamed with thoie aentimenta and obligpttions which form the
PNt: bonds of iocial union, they are Mid to have roamed nai*
ked about the foreata with which their country waa then oover-
ed« aaort like wild beasta than like men.. After they bad
atru^Icd for agea witbthe hardshipa and cabmitiea which are
inevitable in audi a atate, and when no circumatanee seemed
to indicute the approach of any uncommon effort towards im-
proveiBMnt^ we are toM that there appeared on the benks of
the JaketHlicaca, a^man and woman of miotic form, and
dolhed in decent pamam^ '^^*? declared themselves to be
diSdfann of Ihe swh sent by tbeir uenefioent parent, who be*
hdd with pitar the miaeviea of the human race, and who had
commanded mem to instruct and reckum them.. At their paw
suaaion, enforced by reverence fw the divinity in whose name
thqy were sopposea to i^peak, seK«ral of the diimemed savegea
umed togetnar, and receiving their commanda as heavenly
bntructiona, followed them to Cuzco where they settled, and
where diev bttnm to lay the foundatkms of a city, afterwards
d» capital of Pttru*
if^. *v Manoo Capac.jmd Mama Ocdb, for such were the
^ S£ Ths wbols of thk utptndix to the fint Mctk« b sb addhkn to Z*>
ntei extracted Irom G«itu»«o de la Vega and Robemon \ wkkh, bcm; too
Ions for a aoiiB, ^ been placed in the text. The btroductory part of thif
dc&ctioakfWiMttieHiiioryof America. Vol. Op. 189. The Mt of khiga
is from jOardlaaao, whooe diantai^[ed woric it too confiued for qiiotatioiiy-*
«kiAlP. VI. ffoT. I. ijf FritMiMO PiaofrQ.
37S
tii MMM wiadartaff tribM» nffntd iMt lodaliaMMi wUtbt by
nvkiplying Um dmxm, mid nailing th« dbrto of Um biUMii
«piieiii, anitM indmCfjr aad kadi to improvtiMnL lUnoo
Capae inrtnicted the men in agricultnrt and otW ,vmAi1
•oris 1 MftiM Ooollo taught the wonmi to i^ am weave.
9f tho kbottr of the one «n luhuiMMe beoiune kpe jpfeoaii-
ou I bjr that of .the other life wai remlcrad more comtortaUe.
AHar Mouring the oMcct of iint neccwity in an iyifint itate,
<fat fgrovidiog food* nainent» and hiMtationa ibr tlie i;ud« peo-
'pm of n^om he toiok ol»arge, Manco Capac turned hie atten-
tion towarde intvoducing nidi hiwi and floVflgr e# night pcr-
lieMMte their happincM. By .hia iMtituttiqi^ jtho< varjoua re-
4ationa In pdvalJB iife were ettabjiihcd, and tbe<hi|ifaiva«ilting
ftom them pMicribed with mch .pn»ri«ty, a* grilMly f^W'r
4n1 a barbarooi paople to decency of mannerii Jbi^pf^^^i^'
Mlniitration, the functiona of penoni in fw^hority wen jp
preciMely defined, and the tubcMrdinatfon of thne undor jnrjUK
Miction maintained with such a itcody handt thfit the aodety
in which he presided loqn as^um^ the «q)e<^^fi regular and
w«U*goyemed state. ' ,?.yj.
** Thus, according to liie Indian traditions, wa$ bmoi
the empire of the Ineat, or Lords of Peru. At ftf«t ita ex-
tent was small i n the territory of Maaco Ctipm did not
feadi above ei^t tei^ues irom Guzoo,: But within then nar-
row limits he exercised an uncqntfoUed anthori^. Hisj|ttc-
oeswrs, as their dominions enendeti* arrogated a sim^ Ju-
risdiction over the new subjects which thc^ acqubMl mIC '^ws-
potism of Asia was not more complete. Tbo Jans wen not
eidy obeyed as monarchs, but revored as divinities. Their
blood was 'held to be lacred, and, % prohibiting intcrmair-
liages with the p«r^9 was never oontammated by mixing with
that of any other race. The family thus separated from tlje
rat of the nation, was distingidshed by pecnUaritifii in djnw)
and ornaments, which it was unlawful for other* to assi^.
The ttonareh himsdf appeared: with ensions of royal^ reserv-
ed for him alone { and received from hk snl^ecta mai^ of
obsequious homage and respect, which approiM4^ slliiost to
adittiltlon. But among the Peruvians, this HnbejilMed power
ot^lMr monarchs eecms to batfe been uniformly^ i^ooompanied
wilAi attention to the mod of their solg^sctp. {t^was not die
rage of conquests, if we may brieve; thjc aeoomnts of their
countrymen, that prompted we Incasjto extend their domi-
nion,
i>7*
OoniqiutiifFiru
FASr II* BOOK lu
iai^,1nit6iiaii«t» ofdMtehttdwIilmhigiof (ti»Oi«ii<i<lH
Mid'tiy iatMidy of tW •m wBrit they po^amd, MPOUg U>e
biUWol#|)teplB whomtlMirfdbMd, l>ilniig » mooMiow
of tuidre ffioMrdn, It it Mid dMl not one deviattd from this
<*Wl|cintl<frtMiii«diilntiWtcdtlwcoaitofPcriiin MSd,
Hiitiii' Ob]^ fbe twdMi moiunchihiin the fimndcr o£ the
state, #is leeled on the throne. Ho ii -npieientcd as »
prince dbtiiigilSilied not <MiIt for the pociAe' lArtnee pcfidier
to the iftk^ tet eminent for his martial tafents. % hia
vietorllMie aniiii the kingdom of Qaito nim Mifafeoted, a oo»>
qiil|«t'6f'i<ich extent and importance at ahnoat doubled the
p6fi|*U* <6K ^ PertaTian empire. He waa fond of reaidinff in
th^d»M of fhat vahiabM provinee which he had aiiiiMUi
W^fmetAmi end uotwithttanding the ancient and funda*
inenMhIiw of the monarchy againtt pdiiitii^ the ri^al bjood
bry'^^^r fore^^riliailce« he mmrried the daughter of^tbe van-
fl[iiiihed monilth'of Quito. She bore him a ton named
Attdma^, WNoall on his death at Quito, which secnii to
^ffvdlhmperied Abofit the vear 1589, he af^inted his saoces<-
BOT in that kingdom, leaving the rest of hu dominions to Huf
■mtt iUi. eldeiC aoni by a mother of the royal race. Greatly
t» tlie T^iiii^s revered the inemory of a momurch who bed
l^^ff^.ftfthgreateiP deputation and ^lendour than any (^ his
pi^ll|6UM, the diMhiAdon' of Huana CftpMc eoncemma the
so^cCTBon-ittijBcartd io repugnant to a maxim coeval with the
ehip%, ibd muHded oyi^ aiitMrity deemed sacred, that it was
rib so6nel>'tlto#n«tClicobdian it excited general disgust.
Ehconi'atf^' by^ those sentiments of his subjects, Hnascar re^
qiiiiM b& brother to renounce the government of Quitoy and
to a^ki^bin^kdgcf him as his lawfiil superior. But jt had been
the fliti (Wi^'of Atahilatoa to gain a laife body of troops
#hi6h \k4 ileapMnpenie^ his foth^ to Qinto. These were the
tmei ar^!<Pfefrti«iin ifyrrkRTfti to whose valoUlr Huana
Capi^ hid bi^ iiideVted for alt his victories. Atahnalpa
first ehided' 'the'4««ki«nd Iff Itift b|rs>ther, apd i^en: inarched
'lirtinjt;hnh^n•hb8tiIfe-i*ray)>^^w•i . ■.■>m\f. ttiui
^M l^tii th^aiifbltion of two voong prineiesv< the.ti^ of the
''H^ totmded ^ it^mi uSAre, and nf the other asserted hy
m vliik^ t^d<b|Mi; hivohred flaw in fsivil frv, a calain^ to
^hnf|i^it hacf been'liifiMrtd a etannger, undera sneosssiott of
ygt^diis taiorchs. Ilfsttdii aoomcst the issue was obvious.
The i^rc^ of arms triumphed 'ov<^ (hg fu^hority of laws.
• V - -^ - Atahualpa
%UM* f I* new, J. ^ ty^afmtcf ^imnv.
S7S
AtahiMlpft xttttimA viaiorioiM, and mule • cruel «m of his
vicloiyi ConMMM,«f iIm dcfkt i» hit oira titie to the
Aram, be attcmplad to atermimu ttieragral rtcie, by put>
ilteg Jlo death «H )db« diiMnn ^tbewiLdcweiidcd ftmri M^^
Capac, whom he could seiae either by fiuroe or Mralagem.
■f ran 'a politkil motive, (he Ufr of the uniqrtaiMla Huaacar,
vho had hem takoi iwisoncr hi a baltlf #hich decided the
fttciif the empire, was prolhngad! for some tinbei that, hy
ianjUBg orders in his name, the usiiper might watt easily «•-
taMish his own authority. :
<« When Pinnrolanded iii the bav<if'St Mattjiew^ in 15Si,
4hia civil war raoid lietween the tw6 brothers m jits greatest
iatrf I awl Ihoagh the two competitors leceivedearly aooounfet
«f thk>arriTalor the $pfuiia«da» tbeylwerc so inlMt upon the
teacatidaa of « war which th^ deeae4 1*^ intikMtin^ that
may nve.no attention to dm osbttoM ofan cMngr ioo moob-
siderabb in number to excite any great akrm, nd to whom
it would be easy, as they imagmed, to |pve a dbeck when
more at leisure. By dais fiirtiiMate ooinadenoe of events, of
which he could have no foresight, and of which he remained
ioi^ ignorant from his ddfective anode {^intercourse <#ith the
people of the coontTy^ Piaacio was penniltcd to advanee Ui»>
molested into the freatrevf a great enifArei hefere aay «Abrt
limits power vm» exerted to flop hi* caster. Poring their
jprooffess, the Sk^niards aoj^rcHl some itapeiftet knowileike
i^tne stnigp^.between die two contending fiMrtioosi and tte
;fitat Oompkte iafecmotion respecting it vraa received fimn
onsssengers sent by Huascar «d Pizkrro, t» solicit his aid
j^nst Atahualpa, whom, he dnqpresoited as » «ebd and ah
usurper:
■'";;;
■ Willi *
• Manieo Capac, ! the: first' Lncp of ihe Pchiviaas, is said to
have reigned about tiie middle ctfthe, twelfth ceritu^, as thm
traditionary uceapntit attribute a period of about 400 y<dan
between the cdBukwaoenxait ^ his veigfi iid the d^ceaie'of
Huaaa Capnc in 16S9, which kbiill iHaoethb^ ovigifa of the
Imoiiardiy abont the year 1128^ allomiu^ iui.«verage 4^^
iyearatoeach of LS^sooc^ve ine^gns*. The traditions of sOj^
•wliCMBt iiatfisra anialbg an i^onnt {people arts htde to beid»>
!peni^«djoii;s^ tad «MQ admitting^ serieii qf hnigs to be right
as to number, the ordinary average of twenty years to each of
the thirteen successive reigns would oiUy save 260 years for the
%fa
OmqimttfPeru rJMTiu book A,
duration of the nuMiarohy, and would cany back the com-
menoeiiMnt of the reion oTManoo Cqpac only to the year
1269. . The leries of thcBe kings, at given by vanooa
Spanish writers, according to the traditions of the VenninM,
isas^iUows:
1. Manco Capac, 2^ Sinchi Roca. ^^ Lkxjue Ynpanv
qni. 4. MaytaCi^MC. 6. CapMYimanqaif 6. IncaRoca.
7. Yahuar Hnacac, 8^ Inca Jloca, likewise named Viraoo^
cha. 9. Fachacntec'^ 10. Yupanqui. 11. Tupac Ynpanr
qui. 12. Huana Capac. 1S^ Huascar, or In'J-eusi-liui^pa.
14c Atahualpa. 15. Misnoo Capac the Second| crowneaat
Cuseo by permission of Pizarro ; aiWrwards revolted and rcr
tired to the mrvntains. . 16. Sayri Tupac } who resigned the
nommal sovereignty of Fern to Philip tl. He died a Christ*
ian, and left one dan^ter who married a Spanian^ named
Onez de Loyola, and Iran whom are desendea th^ marquisse^
of Orepesa and Alcanises,
•"^f
As the empire of Peru was made up of many barbarous
tribes, its native inhabitants tpcke many langw^ or dialects,
which were only understood m their own particular districts.
The language m the ruling people or tribe to which the royal
ioinily behiiged, called the (huckua, was soldy used at court,
and wo have already seen that the sons, of all the chieft o:|r
cttxacas o£the empire were o|dered to be educated at Cuzco,
that thOT lyyglbt be all able to converse widi the soyerdgn.
In this language the sounds of 6, </,/, g, afid r, are said to
have been wanting ; and yeit that of the r occurs in the names
pf several of their kings. Garcilasso says that this letter had
a guttural sound, pcrhap reseniblingthe burr, or parUrgras
ofthe French : And it is alleged that this langifa^e of a com-
paratively barbarous people was nearly as copious and as
rrtificialas the Greek. The following specimens are aiven
in the Modem Geography, III. 685, to which are added two
^camples of what are palled Peruvian poetry, from Garcilasso
de la Vega, p. 50^ The nouns in this language are declined
by altering the terminations thus } Eumt, a man ; Bunap, of
a'lman) RwugHtc, \o a man, &c The vertM have also
moods and tenses, the t^erminfitions often extending to a great
length.
]^ 36 By tome authors an Inca Roca is here interpoied, who was deposed
sftier a reign of eleven days.-— £.
tKAT, m net* I. by Piwmsco Puatro.
077
1. Hoe
9. Yteaj
s. Qniinu
4. Tahua
Tke Andes .
TbeAmi .
Bad . .
EiftBewd
auiir ' .
^KOf .
ABlrotlMr -
AOloof ,
ItPv r
8, Clnunpi, pichcca.
6. Zocta.,
7> Caachii.
8. Puiac.
ffptfrnk .
TfcflBint ;'
Bmd»«rh««)Qf )
AnBm«^d .' .
The Ey<»' .
Atmmyl. ;
Faditf . .
firis
Ar
Fledi
Aloqt .
AFim>4 •
Obod'
OoUdnit.
Ofcat
AHvtchet
ThelWr.
The Hand
The Head
Ant!
Rkra
ManaaOi*
Zuac»
Zunuy
vim
Hniuquqr
Htuunpu
Huauny, p|t^
, Auet ,
Unaiu
Rkiri
Rlngrim
Micuni
Unuiia
Kaui
AtUw
mm
Nina , ,
Kinanina
ChaUhoa
Chaqt^
Cocho
AlU
Con
Chichi cori
Hajton
Atti, chamgf
CiMpa
Bfaqut
Uma
9. TfCOB.
10. Chunca
100. Pachac
)000. Hnuranci.
AHog
AHbuM .
A Hiuband
Iron . •
A King
AMte .
ALanc* .
JLand . .
Little , .
tore •
A man
TheHoen .
AMothar .
A Mountain
The Mouth
No; .
Th«NoM •
A Queen» or]
ASacrifice
Sand \.
The Sea
Silver .
A Sitter '.
Snow' '
ASM
A Stime
The^un .
Water
Woman .
Yes
. Cueh! ,
Hoaci '
Cosa
QuelUy
Capac, Inca
Cecha
Cbuqni
AUiia
I Httchuy
I Cuyayt munay
. Rmut
. .<MBa
> Mania
< Puna, acha
. Simf
, Maria
. C«Bca
Coya
I Acq
CAtuncochaf
{Mamacocha^
. HmionMi^
. Coflqui
. Fiuiay
I '^itl
f Ch«n
. Kumt
Inti
. t^nu, yawr
. Hoaint
. y
Speeinun afPiruvian poetry.
Caytta Llapi
Chaufitua
Samtuae
To the Song
I will Sleep,
At Midn^bt
I win come.
a,^ • Not good. t Great Lake. t Mother Lake.'
§ Huan^pu likewise ngnifies a canoe, and probably a ship might be
Oamed Atiu|i hvjHnpu, a great canoe.-^E^
iV
999
Conquest cfPeru ibakt 4i. book if.
Section H.
TVansMtions qfPizarro and the 6pamari$ in Peru^jrom the
commencment of the Conquest ^ till the departure ^Almqgro
/or the DUcway of CM/lh .-.■-' t
Arr^B tlbe return of Den Franciaco tl^itiOto from !%>^n to
Panama, hcimade every prfparation in hi» power fbr,.u|ft<»a-
quest of PWil, in whicb wb ^as not seconded nHth-the lanenieit
asformet^tiyfais compalaion Almagrd, by which their «mii«
were, cblisideraibly Retarded, as Atttia^ wak tlie richer t^
atad iiad tfroiter credit among the settlers^ Di^ Ahitfig)ro^
as formerof taientionni, was^nuch dissatiifiid with ^izarro ibr
having ti«glected his interest in his applicati^ft to his nwjciity ;
bat at 1^^ became pacified by his apolo^(ie» and jnoimses,
and their IrienUship was renewed ; vet A1qW(<w could fiet^r
be thoronriily recondled to the brothers of Pizarro, more «■'
peciaily ferdinand, against whc»n he had a rooted du^UBu
Owing to these disputes a considerable time elapsed ; bat at
length Ferdinand Ponce de Leon ' fitted out a ship. i»hi<^
belodged to him, in wbidi Don Francisco l^izanro embailied
with all the soldiers he could procure, which were very fedr in
nunlber, as the people in I^Inama were much discoura^tfdbv
the griet^t difficulties and hardships whidi had bedk suffijjred
in the former attempt, and the poor success which had tW^
been mer with *. Pizarro set sail about the commmcemenc
of the y^ 15S1 ; and ih consequence Of contrary winds unrs
obliged to land on the coast of Pera a hundred leagues inore
to the north than he intended ^ ; by whjch means he was rt>
diMod
1 'With regard to this per«on, the original French trantlator makes thfe
following obMrvationt " Perhaps this is the person named Hernando de
Luque at the beginning of the first section, who is said to have been one of
the original adventurers in >he ^nterprize. It so, the name of de Luque on
the former occasion may be an error of the press.'* — It must be observed
however, that Garcilasso de la Vega names tike thtrd person of the original
fraternity Hernando dfc Luque, and makes iiQ tbiention whatever of Ponce
ieLeon.--£.
3 Neither Zaratenor GarciUsso mention.the number of troops embarked
on, this expedition, but we learh from Robdtson, II 20fr, thit the '^ whole
arMament consisted of 1 80 soldiets, 36 <A «v)iom Wire honieiMBk— fi.
3 According to Robertson, II. 299, Pitarro landed hi <h6 tey^f 8t
Matthew. I'he distance of 100 Spanuh leagues from Tumbez, mentioned
by GarcilasM) as the intended place of landing, would lead us to the Rio dc
/"
CHAP* VI. 8«eT. ti. tnf Francisco Phiarrc.
5*19
dttced to the necessity ^f making a long and painful march
down the coast, where he and his troops suffered great hard-
ships from scarcity of provisions, and by the eKtreme difficul-
ty of erottsiliff the different rivers which intersected their line
of march, aU of which they had to pass near their mouths,
where they an wide and de<|), insomuch that both menJ and
hors£s had often to pass them by swimminff. The couraM
and address of Pizanro was conspicuous amidst these difficuU
ties, by encouraging the soldiers, and frequently exposing
himsQlfito danger for. their relief, even asMsting those who were
unable to swim. They arrived at length at a place named
Ctwtqvfi* ofi the sea side, which was weS peopled, and where
theyvjpcoitvired abuiudance of provisions to rdresh and restore
th«tt aftdr tii^ hardships and privations they had undi^rgone.
From fkai place, Fiasarro sent back one of his vessels to Pa*
nama, and the other to Nicaragua, sending by them above
30,000 ctutillana$^ of gold, which he had seized at Coaque,
to encourage fresh adventurers to join him, by giving a speci-
men of the riches of the country. At Coaque the Spaniards
found some excellent emeralds, as this country being under
the line, is the only place where such precious stones are to
be had' Several of these were destroyed by the Spaniairds,
who broke them in order to examine their nature; as they
were so ignorant as to believe that ffood emeralds ought to
beat* the hittnmer wi^out brcfdcing, uke diamonds. &lievf
.ing therefore that the IndJAns, might impose false stones upon
themt they broke mony of great value through their igno-
The iS^aniards ware here afflicted by a singular dis-
rance.
ease, formerly mentioned, which produced a dangerous kind
of warts or wens on their heads faces and other piarts of the^:
bodyi extremely sore and loathsome, of which some of the
s(ddiers died, but most of them recovered, though ahnost every
one was less or more affected.
Leaving Coaque on account of this strange disease, which
Pizarro attributed to the malignity of the air, he marched on
' to
Santjago in lat. i' S. on the coast of T;u:ames or Esmeraldas. Garcilawo
uya that Pizarro had two vesselst which he immediately sent back to Panama.
But Uiese seem to have Accompanied the march of Pizarro to Coaque.— £.
4 From the sequel, this place appears to have been in the province of
Tacames. — £.
5 A ipedes of gold coin worth 14 reals is maravedies. Garcilasso says
that Flzuro wnt MOOOoi- 85000 ducats of gold to Almagro, pare of which
w,a8 plunder^ and part received in ransom for pritoners. — £•
)
WHb
-c
Conquett ^ Peru 9am ti. sbdk Ik;
io tM province or dittriot in whieh Ptierto Viijjo mow liaiidi*
and e^suj reduced all the •nrroradine country to Mife|)Mth)n.
^epptatna Sebastian Benalcazar and Juan Feniradet join-
•4 bun at this place, with a saiall reinforcemeiM of hotae and
j^t, wiii^ w^ l>roii|^t from Nicaragua *k
^jiviil^ fcdnced the province of Puerto Vigo to iiAjeetion^
l*izajnro proceeiled inth all his troops to the harbour of Tka*
]iett wbencie he delerroined to pass over into^ the idand <4'
Puna, frbidi Is opposite to that port^ For this pui|y6se he
caused li njoiUber dT flati or ;rafts to be eonstmolad after the
itoapner of th^ Peruvians, ibrmeriv ntentioned, to transport
his.men sbd: horses to di6 island, wnich is above tuvn^ miles
ibin tli^ river pflTundbec. The Spanifirds were invhonQinrat
danger in tMt passage, as the Indians who guided their ibats
had resolved, to cut the cords by which their plaidts were
hetd togi^er^ on purpose to drown the men and horses ;
1)ut as rlsarro had some suspici<m or inUmation of their
secret intentions, he oi^dered all his people to be on their
J^iaard, constantly sword in ha^d, and to keep a watdbful ^e
<^ the Indians. On arriving in Che island, the inhabkants
tecc^VMl them courteously ana requested that there might be
peiiee between them i yet it was soon known that th«f> had
concealed their warriors in ambush, with the iatentbn of
mattfUiring the Spaniards durinff the nioht When PisBarro
wa« infonned of Uiis treachery, he attached and defeated ^e
Indians, and took the principal cacique of the isbnd % and
next mdminff made himself roaster of the eAemias an^
which was defended by a considerable body of warriors.
Learttinff that another liody of the ishnders had attacked tiie
flat vessds or rafts in which they had omneover, Pizarro and
his brothers went in all haste to assist the I^Mnish guard
which had the care of them, and drove away the enemy with
considerable slaughter. In these engagements two or three
of t^e Spaniards were killed, and several wounded, among
'Whom was Gonzak> PizaiTo, who received a dangerous hurt
on the knee.
Soon after this action, Hernando de Soto arrived At>m
Nicaragua with a considerable reinforcement of foot and
horse. But £ndi^ it difficult to sidbdue the islanders effec-
tually
*^ 6 In making this iintll progreu the whole of the yew 1531 hsd been
employed, and the year l»32 was already begun before Fizsrro left CosfUf .
^Koberti. H. of Ainer.II. 88f>. f
<MM, Ti. iBor. u. hfBraneisco Tixdrro,
«M
on ii;
iaiidt»
ection.
BJQfal-
Miiid
«
iTmi^
ind <if
ybw he
fUr ti)«
mvport
tynilet
■minrat
iirilMto
kt were
honeii
of tbeir
on tbeir
ibfttleye
lidbitantB
might be
theyhud
ntion of
Pisarro
Bated the
ndi and
It cn»p>
warnors.
tcked^e
alto and
tb guard
emy with
or three
, among
■onshurt
ved from
foot and
lert effec-
tually
hid been
f
tiiaUy* aatbey kopt their eonoei conceaJfBd among the nuuH
grOTO treea unUob grow in tbo water^ I'iiarro reiolved to re-'
tttm to Twabez \ moro especially at the.air of Pttna ii tuH
wboleione from its extreme beat, and the manhr nature of
iu dMMPet. For this reoaon bedivided all the gold which had
becai collected in tlio idand, and abmidoned iihe place. I In
tlria vHtmi of Pttna, the Spankurda found above ox hundred
priaooers* men and women, bdonging to the district o(
Tui^bes, among- whom was one of (he principal nobles of
that pkoe. On the 16th Mav 1532^ Pizarro set all these
pet^ at libor^, and supplied them with barks or floats to
carry them home to Tumbni ^ sending likewise in one of
these bavka ak>ng with the liberated Indians, tliree Spaniarda
to annmmce hiaown speedy arrivalw The Indians of Tom"
bez repaid thie great favour with the blackest bigmtitude^ aa
immeoiatdy on Uicir arrival, they sacrifced these thiee %»*.
niwrds to ttteir abominable idols. Hernando de Soto maido
A narrow escape from meeting widi the same fiUe: He wto
embarked on one of Uiese floats, with a single servant, atong
with some of the Indians^ and had already entered the river
of Tumbez, when be was weea by Diego de Aguero and
Roderick Locan, who had already landed, and who made
him stop the float and land beside them i otherwise, if he
had beoi earned up to Tumbez, he would certainfy have
been put to death.
From the fiMrefloing treachery Of the inhabitant of Tum-
bez, it may readuy m suj^Msed that they were by no meant
dinmsed to fuinish barks for the disembu-katicm of the l^w^
nisn troops and horses |. so that on the first evening, onhr the
Oovomor I)on Francisco Pizarro, widi his brothers Ferdi-
nand and Juan, the Inshop Don Vincente de Vahrerde,
captain de Soto, and the other iwo ^uniards fdready men"
tioned, Aguevo and Locan, were able to land. These gentle^
raiea had to pass the whdie niffht on horseback entire^ wet,
as the sea was very rough, and thev had no Indians to guide
th«r bark, which ue l^pamards did not kqow bow tomanfige,
80 that it overset while they were endeavouring to land. In
the mominff, Ferdinand rizarro remained or the shore to
direct the bmding of the troops, while the governor and the
others who had hmded rode more than two leaeues into the
country without being aUe to find a single Indian, as all the
natives had armed themselves and retired to the smidl hills in-
the^ neij^licHiirhood'. On returning towards the j^it, he
inct
i
VV :
■!)
. i
582
Confuest of Peru rxnt n.-feoeit fx.
iM»(h#«tiptaini Miiiftuick eUMdbi who ksd rode tt» meet
hiai #itb mumak of the mnhy iHiich had (liiwiiibiiflietf. Ha
ntnroMl wMi them to Tumbee, where he ettcmnped wHh all
lite ttoopk be waa able to collect.
> 8oM aftflihvank, CaDtain Bendcazar amvedwith the reit
ti the troops fttNii Uie nlatid of Pttna, where he had been
obliged to^veimrin tin the return of the Vemeb, aa' diere wai
Rot enottgh of shipping to contain i1m whdle at once.
Whiter he waited <br the vessels, he had ta deftsid hhmelf
from continual attadks of the JslanderB ; but iiow r^nedthe
governor with very little loss. PIzarro remained above
nrentydays at Tumbes, during which time he used every
endeavour to persoade the cacique to enter into terms of
peace, by semnng him repeated messages to that effiHst, but
all to BO puvpotie. On the contrary; the natives did every
injiM^iw their power to our people, and especially to the
sarMints and others who went out into the country in search
of provisions ; while the l^aniards were unable to retaliate,
iS rae Indians kept always on the opposite tide of the' river.
^Iw goviernot' daused three barks or floats to \fe brought up se-
Wt&y from the coast, in which he crossed the river during the
^^tt with his bpoihers JUan and Oonadd, and the detains
Benaloanr and Soto, with above fifty horsemen. With these
he made a very fatiguing march before day, as the raiad was
very difficult and uneven, and full of knoUs overgrown with
hnmibles and bushes. About day bre^ he came unexpec-
tbdly to the Indian camp, which he immediately attacked and
carried, putting many m the natives to the sword ; andifor
fifteen days he pursued them into all their haunts, midihtt a
crud war upon them With fire and swordj hi revengrftMr'the
three Spaniards whom they had sacrificed. At length, the
prinoipsi cacique of Tumbez sued for peace, and made some
prestmts cf Bold and silver in token of submission.
Having thus reduced the province of TVimbez, Hzarro left
a part or his troops there under the charge of Antonio de
Nayarre and Alonso Requelme, the former of whom was
Ck)ntadoF or comptroller of accounts, and the latter trea-
surer, both in the service of his majesty. Taking akmg with
himself the greater part of his troops, he went forwards to
the river Poechos ', thirty leagues to the southward of Tum-
bez,
7 F^haps thsit now calfed Mancora, intenaedltte between, the river of
Tumbez and that ^ IMura. In this route Ftzarra had to cross a mountain-
jf^^
11
COT
,)/.
iOO^tt.
cHAVk xsuSBcviitM^ h^ PmntiKO fi^Mfttr,
U$
witball
thewrt
ad been
iei« wM
at once.
I bimflelf
oiticdthe
id above
«d every
tenns of
Ifect, but
)id every
Uy to the
in search
I retaliate,
the river.
,gbti»p«e-
luring the
> Captains
^iA these
rUd was
rown with ■
snottcpec-
tacked and
I • sndifor
nakinlK a
QgrfbT'lhe
eBgth} the
made some
.HiBurro lett
kntonio de
Iwhmn was
jtter trea-
J along with
forward* to
of Tum-
bez,
the river of
U » mountain-
ous
bM, in wfaicib naroh« as ihe eadquas ani itibabitaiitt
ed him pBadeaUy, h«oomii|ot«l hiniai^ in a firieHdlf manner
to tike aativw. PassiM beyond tha before meoiioned riveri
ha came to the bay oC Payta, which it the best on all that
cofMti whenealM dttaobcd d» Soto to redvoa die cadques
inhabitingithebabks of the rtvar AmatM»eor CSura, h^WnMi
he sirodBeded after » il%ht reaistanoe, wi the ead^uet and MN^-
tivas subaittfng and demanding peace*
While<at thu place, Pizarro received a messags fham Cv/i-
co Inr certain envoys sent by Huascar,- informing him of the
revMt-of his brother Atahualpa, and reqaesting his assiitanee
to establish him, as tbo lawful sovereign, in his jost rights '.
On the leoeiptof this message, Plaarro determined to take
advantage of the divisions in Peru. He sent therefera his
brother Ferdinand to INimbea to bring the troops ftem
thence I and ealdMished a co4ony at San Mi^el in die
district of Tangarara, near the sea on the river Ghiira *,
aanport m whiioh to receive vessels coming with reinforee-
medta frmn Panama. Having placed a garrison in St
Mioud, and made a division of all the gold and ulver whieh
had been procured since leaving Puna, the governor nnreh-
ed with ue rest of his army for the province of Caxunavob
ia which he was informed that Atahualpa then was ".■
Oa.dkis march towards Cksamarca, the Spaniards nflhfed
intol^ably, while passing tbroug4i thci dry and burning
saady desert of Sechura, wheA for dteve fifty miles they
could' not find any -water to drink, or - a single tree to shelter
them from the sun. This desert reaches from San Mjguel
%st tha viver Piora to the province of Motnpe, in whlcli iattef
they found some well peopled vallies full of vo-dure, ibd were
su(^ed
one dinrkt, not menttoiied by Zante, called tke hilb of Csitni, Agusrra,
and Pashiai.— £«
. A Qarcillauo luipecta.that this mewue mutt have come.firoin wme cwni.
«e la the hitcre*t of Huascar, who was wen a prisoner to Atah^alp;^~^.
9 Saa Miguel stand* On the river Piurut which rixai into the sea imwards
of foKf nilea ftnher south than the Chtra. This colony being httteded
for 4k ^arbour tu receive reinfotcements* was prbbably first estutlished at
the mouth of the river, where Sechura now stand*. The present town of
Saa Miguel is near thirty miles fSrom thf sea>—£.
10 In tUs Mhrenturott* march into th^ interior of an extensive empire^ the
forces commanded hy Pizarro, who had no>|i^rec«ved several rnaforcemenu,
consisted of 68 horsemen and los foot soldiers, twenty of whom were arm-
ed with cr6ss-bows, and oAly three carried muskets or rather matchlocks. — '
Robertson, H. of Amer. 11. fi9J. He appears also to have had two small
^Id-pieces.— £.
l'
Mt
m^QMgtiat^.Peru VAat ii* BOo&fftk>
,1
■i
i u
c4>in tlif» dwirt. Manlkii^ fisom thiDce b^ mf -of ttuf
mxmnuin tttmuiiM Cwarturc^,. Fkniro ww iMt bgr tt «ato7
from At>hwi|^tm teinging j»ii«Hi j&ttm that pnaeer •nong
whiBk imM pilwlt4>ili|i|Mit«nd^iolte hnodsls. TUc^mot*
MpgMP iaforoMid Um govorMMrt tMtt w1»«iIm inpfl«mbcl before
Atittualpe, be must weet tbme elippen «i4 wraoeiets< that
therfffmee muibt know wbo he wm 'f. JKmxto reedved
tbii>«a(f07 vith mudi kindiMM» and prcmiiwd to 4e> ewtrf'
th^i tliat had been required on the part of Atahudpat <de^
ftiriBC the envo^ to inform hi* lOTereign that he ml^be as^
lUunDd of Mceivinff no injury from him or (he Spaniarda» ; oti
condition that the Peruvians treated thein with peace and
irioDdship i as he had it in orders from the kiiu his master*
who Lv 1 sent him to this oountryt to do no Esrm to any
one «athottt|ust, cause.
On the departure of the Peruvian oivoy, Pi^arro contmu-
ed hip march widi great precaiition* being, uncertain whither
the Indians mifh^ not attack him during the passage of the ~
monnts^Wttin one part <^ which hehad to pass thfougb an
almost inaciysiihle narrow defile, where a hw resc^te men
mi|^t have 'destroyed his wh<^ PM^* ^ On his ariival al
Gavamarca* he found another messenger from AtahnalpB,
who4epirad Uiat he would not [presume to take up .his quar-
ters m tin^ puee nntil he rec^i^ permission rar ^e pnr-
poie> SSaano made no answer to this message, but > imme-
diately took up his quarters in a lafge courts <m one sidCi of
whidi thtfe was a house or palace m the Inea, and on 1he<
odier skle a temple of the stth,. the whole beina surroimded.
b||r> strong wall cm* rampart of earth. When he had posted
his troops in this advantageous situation, he sent captain
Seto«t the head of twMity horsonen to the canqp of Atnhu*
alpa, which was at the distance of a league from CaxanuurcS,
with ordov to announce his arrival On comin£^wai>d«
the pretence of Atahm^pa, Soto pushed his horse mto a full
careet, making him prance and curvet to the great terror of
many
11 Tbu eiiwof would SMUradly tiring aontothe^jpa^iMkgei MdaccMtt-
ia^U Rdbembn, II. S96, uys thu he taknd an alliance, and a friendly re"
ceptiott at Caxamarca. OardlaMO gives a loQ^ and vague account of the
otject^this meiMge, and enumerate* Aiany arfid^' of t>rovidoiu and eu.>
rt<Mitia» and tome nch ftcients 6f goM aAd silver dishes and vases whick
>rere sent on this occasion by Atahualpa to Pizarro. — E. _ _ _^ ;_ _
k
ninjr of die Ftouviifet, who riil an^ay iii « iptodigiMit IHohtt
AtMtolpA^wwfQnnch 4itfkntd al hit anl^e^ Ibr tMr
Qo«rHndice« that 1m drderad all whb had nia a«iaf from ibd
boraa to Iw imtnodiitefy fiut to daath. . , r .
; Afiier $ioto bad djttirand hit nktMgai Amhoalpi dflduod
fp^nag 9fky dkraet «s>fia«r«r, not choosing to addreis his dNcoana
«wni^iau>^ :it AKoi Ho spoke first to one of hi« attandant
chiefis who eommuuicated what the kuiff had said to the in»
tiypNtert after which the interpreter ei^kined what had iiacn
Said to Soto. While dib drouitout conversation was going
on, Ferdinand Picarro arrived with some more honemcp*
and arldresMd Atahualaa in the name oC his i)rother» tp. the
following efibct. *< That his brother the f|enerfd had been
sen^t to wait upon Ataboalpa by his sovereign Skm Carlos
with a^ ofl&r m firiendship and ailiancej and wished thimfipie
to have an audience of ms miigesty» that he might oommnni-
cate what had been given to him in charge by the king ci
9^n.r To this Atahual^ repliedt <* That he accepted
wi^H pleasure the cikr of friendsnip from tbo g^ieral, ppf
yided he would restore to his subgeots all the |iold and Mlver
be had taken from them* and would immeduitely quil^ the
cppfitiv i and that on purpose to settle an amic^i^ arranger
ipenti he meant next day to visit the Spanish general in Ibe
pal||<» pf Caxamarca.'* . .; ^ .t
Aller jriitttlng the Peruvian cimpf which :h$d tbeappeaiy*
aqoe f4 m immense city* from the. prodigious «»idUtude of
tents isypd the yiist numbers of menj which it eonlained* Ferdip
iiand;Piaarro retained to ihis brother^ to whom he gave .«
iaitbfui aeeount of every thing be had seen, and of die worihi
of Atahualpa* The answer of tibat i^nce ^itre Some conop
derabie uneasiness to Piaarro* as having rather a menacing
wpeanuice, mtMre especially ecmsidering that the (vrmy of the
Peruvians outnumbered bis own small force in the prqporiioii
o£ one or two hundbed to one. Yel as the general and most oi*
tnose who were with him were inen of bo^ and determmed M-
jmlatioD, they encouraged eadk other during the di^t ta
act like mra u>oowrage an^'hsnom'y trusting to the aAistaijioe
of dod, in the disi^rge of dMirduQP^ They passed the whob
night under -i^rmt» keying Strict watch round their quarti»s»
and in amfkie nMu^uiess fm whatever might befiM* .
.Early in the morning of the 16th November 15S2, Piztoro
drew up his small body of men in regular order. Dividiiu|
his Cftvalry into three bodies, i|pdec the o(»nmand of hb
VOL. IV. Bb .-— -i^^i three
9M
QmipitHtf Pern rAvr 4t» tooK |i»
brailMNf F«rdiiMnd« Auaii and Oonalo, aiiiitod bf
tlwCapliiM&plaMKi Bendeaaart lie <mkrad UrlcMp thoiil*
<tNe* oonflwJed ^thin Ui«r qtutften till th«y ilMciatd re6eif«
onlcni to attack. He remained himidf at the bead df the
irfbati^i fai another murt of the inoloaed oodrt, hatihg iNwed
tiM~etmteil*comniaiias that no one should make tM lanaU
liitmotian withOttt hit orders, whidi wen to be oonvtfyetl by
the discharge of the artillery.
' AtidiaaJ|ia'«hifrfoyed a great port of the day hi arringiag
hb tioopi m order of battle^ pointing out to* each of the com>
mandem where and in whatmanner their dlYiriom were to
attkdc the SiMniards. He likewise sent a detachment of 5000
Pwttvian warriors under one of his principal officers named
Huhunagiii, with orders to take possession ot the defik? by which
the Spaniards had penetrated ttie mountainj and to kw every
one <C' them who might endeavour to escape in that way '*.
Atahualpa 'having given all these orders, .b^n his march and
iRdvaac^ so slowiy that in four hours his army hardly pro-
ceeded a abort leagve. He was carried in his littcir in tfio
iMMal Btalc^ op the shoulders of some of the prindpal lords of
4ili eoort, having three hundred Indians- marching before ^im
in rich unifbrmsy who removed every stone or odicr substance
iHhioh might obstruct the way I even carefully pickh^up die
smallest straws. He was foUowed by a numerous' traiii' of
ittNMsas or' caciques, and principal officers of his touit{ idl
'^leartiid^iti^ fitters. The Peruvians hekl the Spaf^ktds in smidi
-astimatilbn, they were so few in number, uid imagined thejr
.^tecmkl easily make them all prisoners without preaumihg to
•make the smallest re8»taince.i One of the caoimies had setait
-to itufmrm Atahuaipa not to stand in any awe of tne Spaniiurdtf,
^ they were not only few in number/but so effianinate and
-Itay that they were unaUe to march on foot without being
'^red bv a very short distance, ibr which rMiMthey'travellcn
<on the oaeks ixiarge «A04fr, by- which name they disting6i8h-
-cd'Ourliorses.'
•. ' Ib the order already described, Atahudpa entered with all
V. -his irmy and attendants Into a kige squmre or ienckMure in
'fi<ont orlhe tambos or palflwe of Caxamarcaf and seeirig' the
t Spaniards so few in number and all on jfoott as the cayaliy
remained in ocmceahnent, he^onoehrad that they would hot
' ■ '■•''«^» :'?'' -■ ■ ' ■ certainly
ills Rdbsrtion, IL S99r8U|ipMttN,aU tesntioaxf any hMtil* ibUnliMM oa
; the ^ait of Atahuaipa.— £. H^^jt r., ;? i. -V . »; v
ettitf. «»; mf»:it tgf JJTMdbM ANhVv.
m
oorta!iirrdar*t6ttiiid1ieforehinior MMi|*1i|»l ^_
R|«iii|tt)>tlMreferaf1M'hii Ulter, IM HM tbhk Mmii^0fl»t
*»> TImt p$bph *#• ill in our powtr* iuA Wiii-mumdiy tafu
Nli4er." To whkh thoj^'All Mi«%«tad tlMt thb vii Mrttrtiil^
Ubi ami At thb tinM^ fhe bUdp Doii VlieMltti V«lf«d»
o^tiiiided t!^«ftb Atiihliil|to» hdMing i^nielteiiioMiMiMl
mid |iilrbin^vifr3^hitl|« other, tad addftMid MhiviImM*
iMritn^eHbcf;'' ■-'"'^"-''•■•' .'",'« v/isi or',»ijcf/ii jI y/igo4 fxtAJi-wj
^'TfcMre'biiMrpne Gbd'id Ai^ i^itwbm WW'lunfiMPwildl
tl)e iMrrMM iuul kb^ estth and all tliat are ih^Mku H« Ibnbk
«d AdttniHSM flnt man oat of the diMt tithd eahh^ aiwd afkato*-
inirdi,ihi<MEiH6 hi»irife<firoill A rib= taleto «ui tC Iim> iddak
AH' iSbti0ttit^k>n!$6fttm are d#ie^d«d Jbtti Ums* oar fint
pMreQt^y by whM^ dbNKMBditoce' wis haWf' all- baeaim' ~* ""
iiii#t)rtfay th^tv^re «r the |g(raoe>ftiiid itteit* of Qtodi «iil M<>
jrohd the Ifo^^liea^en; ant^ ieMtChMci odr' Radaehaar
^nm bora of the ¥trffiii and sunetred death t» fMiTohaaa ibr m
life tad tiiundtfaMty; After oifr Lord hid ■aieiati » shipMb
fbl death upptt the eroM, he rpw iffiin iA a gibiUdi mata^i
tadt hftmg itata^ 7t V^ ffni««(tt earth; ha iiibeadad iia-
to Heaveii^ l^i^g St'PM?r1kb tiear oir earthy iadiiftaa him
his anceetawi wiio dw^^kk 'Rome, and ire MMMd po^ b^
th^ €briititai 'll)eii^fto^'feucCJtaioftof<SM Fetiwlw^
^ded aU tU0 6Qfuiftri«s'«ff^th^ ai^iid taHing tlit'Chriadta
kingi tad priiibei, ^gt^ik)^ i^i'^hartM to e^ to mibdde that
poitlota ^hidi hai bm'Sidiua ^tdm. ' tbif «0Utry of Pe-
nt having fiiHta f^ the i&M'6f bis in^peritil and royal na
fy; die fniptfMt Dta tlbtlokking of Spain, that graai^
ytto^ hath i^ hi hhpuvt t^ffgoi^dr Den Fraadioo Fi»
Miitbi iiotf^ present, to priAk^lttl^n t6 yoli oof tb»'paM of
Gdd aiid |]i« Idhg^of Spaib,Villthfit I' hii^iMMi^ wid. If ydu
lure ifiMKN^ tbb^ij^^ m^^ltai^' ib te(^ aatd to
c)bey4e jeitin^i^; as if ddri^'by thk gti^itt^sC t)Ortioo of the
Cbd^it|ta(W^» 'tkflit mfiL pktbte ^ ipt<^t Md deferid
yoii aiid jrbjA^ c^htrf' iA iW^ caitsi^ ktsticeto be adakidia-
if^eAUSi^-' m iriH liftbikf^donftrm «)r ytta^Mpigbts awl K.
bettiis,' aU'WisI diittjiiitoiiiM tor dd to ^ thd'kings and prinoea
Wl^ lH(«e t^K^tittfi% MAhni^^^ Batifyoa
itftise^is and choose to run the hazard of war, the governor
will attack ypu with fire and sword, and is ready at tliia mo-
ment t^ dfo so wldi iijriAs ih liisltand 'V '"'^'^ ^«^ a?n«<> r 6
WIten
■
IS RvbettMD, note exsir, JMtff ei1»e<^> list tke tjttntvsgaatsad abwwt
■'^>»>tMi»"r-
i%»: CpHflMK ^PftU rARt U. BOOK M^
Whwi At4«i«te«^W liftmad to Uii« diKoune, T«iy iar-
p«rfiK% nndirtd by «ii ignonml interpreter, \m iuitwered,
^*. JImi the whole w this opuntry bud been conniered by hie
Mar And hie aoowtiept, who hed left it i|i rigbtlnl lucceesioa
lo.bie:tld«r< beolber ,tbe inca Huaeoer. Th#t be bevina been
Isonq^ered.wid Cehe« priaoner, Atahfiiplps held bimeuir a* !«*
gitliniile.iov«reign, end coqtd noi oonoeive how St Peter could
pretend to give it eway to aiiy one, without the knowledge
nnd CMueilt of him to whom It belonged. Ae fpr Jef ue ^hriat,
vbo.httiiud bed crested heaven and earth and, man^/ftn^ all
olber tbiagi^ hiakifew nothing of all thisi believing, that the
•on bii fiwier wa« the creator of aU, whom he andliie na^io,.
vMerated aa a god* jwoi^ipping likewise the earth a« thf u
ther of aH tlungv, and thegKacMaa subordinate, 4ivin{iiei, and
that Pidiaoama wae tlic; n^Mreme ruler and creator bftUi things.
Aa for what ha had «aid of the kinjg; of Spain, he kne^ir nothing
at allabout the matter, never Iwving seen bini.'* At the last,
-ha ashed the bishop where ho hoU leatnt all thi^ things
.whidi he bad blsea telling him. Valv(^rde anawered him that
-all thHediuiifi!>fr« contained infJie, book which be hekl in
Ab{ltettd,;»biobwaa,thewordor0od.; Atabua^ asked jit
^m ()rim« ops^ the book turf^ing^ over its leaves, saying
4hat,it laid nothinr, to hin^f.^nd tjlurew it on tjoie ground.
i3%e bishop Mien turnii^ to tl^rSp^niardf^c^led put, <* To
artnsl lo.arms f Cbrntians: Tb^ wpr^ pf Ood is inpuilted.^
/jFisarro bebtg of qiiuioii thnn^b^yoDl^ be easily destroyed
'Eba (Waited Iw the attack of .thf\,C9niv|W)»*Jin^edia^ly 01^-
^ered hi* soldien^ to advance, to tb^ c^ige; a^dii|g wprd to
Jfb brothersimd the,ptber oifiwrs w|io cpmmf^ed.the caV^^
^ry to.exeeute ;thfB orders, whidh J^^. hoda^efidy, i^i^
itijeUkeWisiB order^ the i^i^tilleiy fnd uecrossbpwsiip' {t^nji-
onence firing upon Uie Indians, OTwludi t^e cavaby, as had
abceli conoeffted^ sullied foftb and.iol^uged through among the
Ilndiani in three jepurate b9!duesi-]whuc he impved /wnt'ard^
-at the head of the infimti;|r,, pufhing; y j,:;^ . •*->; jtBe Bjtt^ m
.whkh AtahnalFf 1*^ «awripd» the )w^ •'» ■> ^ ' ^ ^ ^ I'W / ^
i^^gan to slay, while others prea^ i pn 1 9\y vhcir . places.
lAa Picairo yi^ fm^vpimihi^h^m^ )m,V^fi^^J°^, ^
tciiy^-yy^. -^^^ A-r-i':,^ f/--, •.-:;( -..dl v.r':Gy'>'u'iih ?;.,.■ vi:;UUallibly
dnoeune of Valverdc, of whic]^ Unt nrea bv **vfiit in tnfe text u an epi-
V »t*f»^u merely a tranalatibn oir panqiBnie of aiibrin,'obacerted ia 1509 oy
\ a ' .-vto of S','>- liib lawyers and diviaes* for directing tke office employee
^ ■ > ihe Ntw World bow to t8k*poMa«i«Mi of any new. coantry,-> J^
cMp. n. ncr. tr. 6jf Fr fin'aeo Pizta^m,
m
iaftUibfy dcffrenred if the ^>atcle renkaiiiacl fcr my IcMlii of
ttoe undecided, the Iom of one loMier beiiif of inflnitelv
wone ooniequei^ to him than the dettrnction of hundrcdn
w«e to the enemy, and that he nined nothing by the deatfi
of fhouMndt of the Perufians, aetermined to make every ef-
ibrt to gain iXMseieion of Atahnalpa, tat which pvrpOM he
c/fc hit way up to the litter in which he was carried % and
iei '.inff him bv his kmg hair dragKcd him firom hi* teat to the
^ and. In doJng thie, as sereralof his soldiers weremaUng
6utJ with their swords against the gdden litter, one of tiieir
•words glancing off wounded Pixarro in the hand. Paying
no attention to this wound, he hdd fiuit hb rich prize, m
Site of the endeavours of multitudes of Indians to resose
eir sovereign, who were all either killed of driven away,
and at lenoth secured Atahualpa as his priiODcr.
When tne Peruvians saw their sovereign in tlM hands >f
the Spaniards, and found themsdves assawd hi so nai^ pUoes
at once by the enemy, especially by the horse, Ate fluy #f 'vhose
charae they were unable to resist, they threw down -their arms
and dispersed in eyerydirection,«ndeavettring to preserve their
lives by flight A prodi^ofu multitude of them being stiqpped
Sj a comer x>f the great court or square, pressed with such
olence against the wall that a part of it gave way, formr
ing a large breach by which many of them escaped. The
cavahy pursued the fugitives in every dllrection till nighty
when thca^ returned to quarteri **. ^
When Ruminagui heard the noise of the artillery, and saw €
centinel who had been placed oa the top of a fO(ik thrown
down by a<&paniard, he concluded that the Spaniards had
gfldned'tSie irktory ; and was so much alarmed that he march-
ed away with tSi Ids men to Quito, never stoppinff for any
time tiU he got to that city, which is two hundred and fifty
leagues from Caxamarciu
^tahualpa being thus made prisoner^ and his whole army
having taken to ^ht,' the Spaniards went next morning to
pillage his camp, where they found a prodigious quantity
df gold and silver vessels, excessively rich tents, stufis, vest-
ments,
14 h tliM «iv«g«mciit, or auMacre nther, according to ons Spatuih
tmtar sooo FwuvisM were lUin, iHiile aaother anthor nrells tht nnnbtr tp
•worMvm thoiMand, and a third wyt ftvc tbeanad. Oi the Spaniards
dotoae was «vcn hurt txcept the gcnml Pizarro, who was wounded in the
h»nd by one of his own •oldiers.-'Roberti. Hitt. of America. II. SOS- ^d
r,otecx«xi.
K^
9M
Ompusi of Ptru
ViRT II« BOOK n»
•aentti Mid ivtnv otjiier urtidet pf immense v^l^ek Thfl gdW
plate fdont which wgt carried alonff with the arro^ for the
liaa of Atahualpa exceeded the value of 60tOOQ pist0ln''«
Abote 3000 women whq were found in tlie camp of tha
etieqay vohintarily surrendered themselvee to the %iaiuardi.
The cff»^ve Atah^alp^ npw mt4e euhmisaive application to
^^rrO) earnestly intreating to be well used, and made offer
for hi8 ransom to deliver a quantity of gold that shoidd fill a
laige chamber} besides so large a muss of silver that tne Spa-
niards would be unable to carry the whole away. Pizarro
wasastoniriied at this magnifioant offer, which he could hardly
cveditt yet promised ^e (iUlbn monarch that he should be
w«ll usedi and evitn engaged to restore his freedom if he made
good his offar* - Atahu^pa was so much pleased with this pro-
mise, that he immediately sent numerous messengers through
the v^hola aiPSipire, particiilarly to Cuzco, ord^ng all the gold
and s^^w that couUI be procured to be brought to Caxamarca
to pay hia rsnstiPi. He had promiwd an immense quantity,
aa na had engaged to fill a long hall in the tambos or palace
of Caaamarea>a« high as he could reach with his hand '', for
%h^b puvposa ^ height was marked by a coloured line
4^wn round the yrhoh room. Although large quantities of
aold and silver arritied every day after thit> agreement, the
S|Dianiards could not be satiiified that the promise of Aathuolpa
wdiild ever be fulfilled. They Itegan even to murmur at tne
delay, alleging that the time which had been fixed by Atahu-
iJpa for the accomplishment of his promise was already pant j
and they alleged that he bad fallen upon this scheme on pur-
pose to gain time for the assemblage ot a new nrmy, with
t^hich to attack them at unawares. As Atahualpa Ibnd con-
uderable sagacity, he boon noticed the discontent of the ^a-p
nlard^
X5 ComMsnU* even »■ this turn ippcan, it wcmi too small for the so-
vereign of so vast an empire which abounded so much in gold ; yet we h*ve
no means of correcting ine amount. Garcilasso however mentions onepiece of
J;oid plate found ifi the baths of Atahualpa after the battle u'ortk 180,000
ucats ; but his yrork is so strange i farrago of confusiopi and absurdtty as to
hear veifv little authority. — ^£.
16 The omission of the length and breadth of this room by Zarate, is
aiipplied by Kobenspn, ii. so:;, from the other original Spanisli author^ who
say the room was 82 feet long by 1 6 feet broad. The reaeh of Atuuk^a
leould not be less than 7i feet, i^640 cubic feet of gold, even heaped up of
hpHow vessels, must have produced a m6st astonishing value of that precious
metal ; bu^ there are no dit^ on whii^ to calculate the numerical vSltM of
this ii penal ransom, which the Spaninrds certainly fneantto aecfpt, btit
irould never have fulfilled the alternative. — E,
t;iiABt Ti. 8icr. vu^ by Bwieiteo Pizam*
391.
niards» and Bsked Piiaite the reawn. On being infinrnMd^
he made answer that they were in the wrong to complain of
the delay, which was not such at to give any reaaom^je
canae fw suipidon. They ought to conndinr that Cuaeo^
from whence the far greater part of the |^ had to bebrooghty
waa above WO large leagues distant from Caxamarca 1^ an
extronely diiBonIt rmid, by which all the gold had to be caiw
ried on the shoulders of the Feniviamif and that very little
time had elapsed for the accomplishment of so laborious a
work. Having thus endeavoured to explain the cause of de^
lay in payment of the ransom, he requested that they would
satisfy themselves on the sufa^e^ by inspection Uiat he was
actually able to perform his engagement } after which they
would not think much of its being delayed a month more or
less. For this purpose, he proposed that he should deputsr
two or thvee of the Spaniards, who might oo to Cnzco, navi-'
ing orders from him to be shewi. the royal treasures in that
city, of which they would then be able to bring back certain
inmrmation to satisfy the rest.
Opinions were much divided among the Spaniards, as ta
the adoption or rejection of this proposal. Several consider^
ed it is a most dangerous measure for any person to trust hinn
self in the hand of the Peruvians, especially to so great a di»>
tance* Atahualpa considered this doubt of safety as very
strange, especially as they had him in their hands as an hostage,
tqi^ether with his wives, children, and brothers. On this,
Ftemondo de Spto apd Pedro de Bareo resolved to undertake
the journey ) and accordinglv by the directions of Atahualpat
they set out in litters, each of which was carried on the
shoulders of two men, with a niimber of other Peruvians ac-
companying t|iem, to serve as reliefs when the others were
tired. They were carried in this manner ahviost as tut as if
they had rede post ; as the litter carriers went alone with
great swiftness, frequently relieved by (he others, ofwhom
there were fifty or sixty in all.
Several days journey from CcxanMrca, Soto and Baroo
met a party m the tnx^e of Atahualpa, who were escorting
the Inca Huascar as a prisoner. Inis unfortunate prince^
on learning who they were, requested to have a conference
with them, to which they consented, and in which he was
distinctly informed of all the recent events. On being inform-
ed of the intentions of his imperial majesty Don Carlos, and
pf ^izairro, who comroaiided the Sbaniaras in his name, to
fi;fev-*-v> - • ■• cause
8ffl
Conquest tf Peru mbt ii. book n.
onne tBOfMrtiai raadce to be executed bodi to tUe Peruvumi
and'Spuiiards, he laid before them a distinct account of the
iniustioe v^iich he had suffered from his brother Atahualpa,
whonot only wished to deprive him of the kinodom, which
behliq^ed to him of ri^t, as the eldest son of the late monarch
Huana Capac, but now kept him a prisoner, with the design of
putting htm to death. He ui||ed them to return to their gene-
ral, and to Iny his con^plaints before him, requesting that he,
who now had both competitors in his power, and was conse-
auently entire master of the country, would judge between
lem, and decree the possession of the empire to him who
held the lawfiil right of succession. He farther promised, if
Fizarro would do this, that he would not only fulfil all that
Atahualpa had promised, which was to fill the apartment at
Caxamarca to a certain height, but he would fill it with gold
to th^roof* which would be three times more than Atahualpa
had promised. He assured them that he was better able to
do all this, than was Atahualpa to perform what he had pro-
mised { because Atahuapa, to implement his engagement,
would be under the necessi^ of stripping the temple of the
Sun at Cuaco of all the plates of gold and silver with which
it was lined i whereas he, Huascar, was in possession of all
the trottures which belonged to his fiither Huana Capac, and
the former Incas, by which he was able to perform what he
|iad BOW offered, and a great deal more.
All that htf alleged was certainly true, as Huascar was in
possessbn of immense treasures, which he had hidden under
ground in some secret place, unknown to all the world. On
lis occasion, he had employed many Indians to transnort his
wealth into the place of concealment, after which he nad or-r
dered them all to be put to death, that thev might not inform
any one of the place. After the laniards were entire mas-
ters of the country, they made every possible search after these
treasures, and even continue their search to the present day,
digging in every place where they suspect they may be con-
ccAKid, but hitherto without being able to find them.
Soto and Barco told Huascar, that it was out of their
power to turn back, being under the necessity of continuing
the journey on which they had been sent by order of their ge-
neral i but that on their return they would make a faithfiil
report of all he had said. They accordingly went on their way
towards Cuzoo. But this meeting and conference occasioned
^he death of Huatcar, and the loss tp the Spaniards of the
^..r.. - vast
/BHAr. n. tier. n. &y 'Bremasco Pkarro,
#98
vast treasure he had promised for hlslib6rt)r and restoration.
The captains who had the custody of Huasoar made a report
to Atahualpa of all that had passed in the interview between
their prisoner and the l^anisli messengers i and Atahualpa
had sufficient saigacity to see, if these matters cnme to we
knowledge of Piuurro, that he would feel inclined to t^kepart
with Huascar, especially in consideration of the prodigious
Quantity of gold which had been offered for his interference,
ie had remarked the extreme eagerness of the %}aniards for
the possession of gok), and feared that they would deprive
him of the kingdom, and give it his brother, and mieht put
himself to death, as an unjust usurper of the clear nghts of
anodier. Being disposed, from these motives, to order his
brother Huascar to oe put to death, he was only restrained
from doing this immediately by one circumstance. He had
frequently heard from the Christians, that one of their prin-
cipal laws, which was most religiously observed, was, that all
who were guilty of murder were punished with death, whe-
dier the murder were committed by themselves personally, or
by others at their instigation. He resolved, therefore, to
sound Pizarro, and to discover his sentiments on this subject,
which he did with wonderful artifice and dissimulation.- One
day he pretended to be overcome with extreme grief, weep*
ing and sobbing, and refusing to eat or drink, or to speak
with any one. When Pizarro inquired the cause of this
distress, he allowed himself to be long intreated before he
woukl give any reason of his sorrow. At length, as if overi*
come by solicitation, he said, *-* That he had just received in-
telligence that one of his ofHcers had put his brother Huascar
to death, by which news he was entirely overcome with grief,
OS he had idways entertained the wannest and most respect-
ful affection for him, not only as his eldest brother, but in a
great measure as his father and sovereign. That alUiough he
had taken Huascar prisoner, he not only had no intention of
using him ill in his person, but did not even metin to deprive
him of the kingdom : his sole object being to oblige him to give
up the possession of the kingdom of Quito, according to the
last will of their father, Huana Capac ; who had made a con-
quest of that country, which was beyond the boundary of the
hereditary empire of the incas, and which consequently their
father had an ui<uoubted right to dispose of in nis favour."
Pizarro endeavoured to console the pretended affliction of
Atahualpa, by assuring him| when peace and good order
I
»
»:f?S(»r;is',?5??*--"
S(^«
GOHqWtt ^BWU lABT II. lOOft \u
i
:
1
wtre reHMUbliihotl in Uio empir«»Uiaiho would uttke « itiki
inquiry into tbo olruumiUuicM of th« deatli of Huaiear, and
wouM MVArdv puniwh oU who hud tMrtioipAtod in the crime.
/Whtn AtMiunl^m finind that Puwrro tooli up this affiir
with 10 much coolncit and moderationi h« rtMilvwl to «XMUt«
hia deitlgn, and vent Inunedioit ondera to bii officers who hod
the custody of Huaiear to put him to death. So promptly
were theae order* obey«d» tnat it WMdifllloult to aecertoin in
tlie lequol whether the exoeMivefjricf of Atahuilpa wo* fidgn-
•df and whether it preeedfd or followed the death of hie bro«
ther Huaacar. Moat of the aokliera biaiued Soto and Barco
Ibr tliia unhappy event i not conaidering the neceaaity of eve^
ly one to obey tlie order* of tiieir auperiora with cuctncaa,
ovoording to their inatruction«i capuoially in time of war, with*
out aaauining the liberty of ninkina any alteration or modtf*
cation occonling to circumatancca hi their own opinion un|eat
thipr have expreva and ibrinal diacretionnry power. .
It waa currently reported among the Peruvianai that when
HuaifCar learnt he waa to be put todeatli by order of hia bro«
ther, be made the following obaorvation : ** I have been tmly a
short while aoveroigti of thia country, but my foithlesa brother,:
by whose orders I urn to die, will not be longer a king than 1
hove been." When the Peruviana aoon aiterwarda aaw Ata^
hualpn put to death, conibrmable to thia prediction, they be^
lievedHuascar to have been a true aon of the sun. It is reportf
ed alao, that Uuaacar should have auid, when hia father Huan#
Capac took hia kst leave of him, he forotold " lliat white
men with long bearda would aoon come into Peru, and od^
vised hitt) to treat them as friends, as they wouki become niae*
ters of the kingdom." Huana Cnpac may havs received some
intimation of this future circumstance from the demons \ and
that the more readily, that Piicarro had been on the coast of
Peru before his death, and lind even begun to make some
conquests. intiMnt i^uim^o
While Picarro continued to reside in Caxnmarca, he sent
out. his brother Ferdinand with a parly of cavalry to discover
the country, who went as tar as Piichacaniac, about a hundred
leagues from Cuxamnroa. In the district of Hunmachucos,
Ferdinand met with iUcscas, one oi die brothers of AtahuaU
pa, who was eocorting a prodigious quontity of gold to Caxa^
iriaroa, part of the rnntiom of the cn)itive inca, to the vtdue of
two or three milliuns at the least, without counting an immense
quantity
ttuAW, m, MCT. n. ^ Fftmciuo Piurro.
SM
<IUMitity of vilver '\ Ht continuod hit journoy from IIiw»
maohuoM to PnchMaiiMM, not ikr to th« M)«th m whun Linui
now itMdi, tbrough Mveral Jiflkuit mmI dMUfcruiu papw* i
whtn he leurnt tliak ont d'tlio goii«rd« of Atiili|ial|iii, n«ro«a
Ciliouohim« wm utotionMl with » tnrge ^my »X a plttc« f IkiuI
fortv iffAtfUM tirom th«noe. FerdinHno Plidurro M'Fit ft ^toMugt
to int Ptruvittn gtncral to rcquwt thtit he would come to
natak whh him i «tid an CiliouchUim ntfuMNil» Ferdinand took
the reioiutitm to wait utM)n hbn in pcnon. Thi'^ wm coBiider*
«d by niMiy m extrentely reih and imprudent, lo truit himiielf
in the hendi of ■ bnrberouN and powerful ouemyt He wot
Kucxsewful however in the attempt* at by varioun r«prefent»*
tlont and promiM»» he prevailea on the Peruvian general to
diftmiM hill armyi and to go along with him to Caxamarca to
wnit upon hi* aovorcign AtMliualpM. To thortin their jour*
ney, tliey took a very difficult route through mountaini covei^
ed with mow, where they were iti daugur of periahing with
cold, , ,
Oil arriving at Caxamarca, before entering into the pre*
lenoe of Atahualpu, Ciiicuchima bared hi* fvct nnd carried «
preaent to hit tovvri'ign aiier the cuttom of the country, and
•aid to Mm weeping, tlint if he had been along with him, the
Spaniardt ihould not huvc liecn allowed to moke hhn. a prk
toner. Atahualpn aii»wert<d, ihot hit ciiptivity wae a punMb«i
ment fVom the god*, whom ho hod not honoured end retpectf.
ed ae ho oitglit to Imve d^ i but thot hi« defeat and copturo
were chieHy owing tu the cowardici; ami flight of Ruminogui
with hil 5000' mm, who ought to have tuccourc^i him when
attacked by the 8pauiardt.
"While Don I'ram-iHco Pixurro wat in the province of
Poecho between Tumbez and Pay to, before he marched to
Caxamarca, ho received a letter without any tignatwe, which
H wat oftcrwardt icamt had been tent to him By the lecreta-
ty of Don Diego de Almagro. He wat intormcd by thta
letter, that Almagro hod fitted out a large thip and teveral
NmaJler vctiteia with a considerable nuniber of toldiert, ia
which he proposed to nail beyond the country of which Vvti-
tato laid taken ponieHHion, and to reduce the best portion of
Pent under hit own authority, at beyond the government
hod been granted to Pizarro by hit majetty, which
only
trhich
ViWf.iiifc'tf
'17 The lum imht uxt U qukt vaguely cxpreMedi pcrfiapt |Necee of
eight retb, or dolian.-'E.
>y
~'t<'-«-»- tui' f' ir iwyMTiVf ;Hiii Jtnfc" SM J»«(»^ ') 'tit**;
«r5i»
j9)09
Couqueti ofF»ru tAM n. aooK ii^
only extended fOO leagues to the south of the eqniAor**.
The governor had never shewn bis patmts to any person *' i
yet it was carendy reported that Aimagro actually left Pana-
ma with the intention of canying that design into execution ;
. bnt on airiving at Puertoviejo, and leaminff the amasins
successes pf Pfasarro, and the prodigious quantities of gold and
|i(Hver he had ajready aoouiredtthe half of which he consider-
ed as hdongtng ,tp him, he changed Iks purpose, and march-
ed with all his people to C^amarca to join jPixarra On bis
arrival .there, the geenlter part of the ransom of Atahualpa was
already brought, and Aftnagro and his followers were filled
with astonishment and admiration at the sight of the {H-odi-
giou^ masses of gold and silver which were there collected,
more than they thought eoukl have been in any part of the
world.
Wlien all this gold mmI silver was meJtcd down, weighed
and essayed, it was found to amount to the amazing sum of
six hundred millions o{ maravediest or more than 4,500,000
}iv^. it is true that the proof or essay of this gold was
made hurriedly, a^td only by means of the touchstone, as they
had no aqua Joriis to conduct the process in a more exact
manner. It afterwards appeared that this gold had been es-
timated two or three carats below its real value ; so that the
whole amount ought to have been reckoned at seven mUliens
ofmaravedies, or 5,250,000 livres. The quantity of silver
was so iarge, that the royal fifth amounted to SO^OOO mark»
of fine ^iver, most of which was afterwards found lo contain
two or three carats of go]|d. The royal fifth of the gold
amounted to 120 millions of maravedies, or 900,000 livres.
Each honeman received for his share in gold, without count-
ing the silver 240 marks or 12,000 pesos, equal to 80,000
liraucs. The shares of the horsemen were a quarter parir
larger than those of the foot soldiers. Yet all these sums did
not amount to a fifth part of what Atahualpa had engagetjl
to pay for his ransom. Those who had come alons with
Almngro, though considerable both from their rank and num-
ber,
' 18 At 1 7^ leagues to the degree, this goTemment acearded to Pizarro,
would havfi reached fr«in about Tacames to the lat. of 11° 95' 3. whereat
the kingdom of Peru extends to lat. 21" 35' S. and its most valuable and
richest provinces would have fallen to the share of Almagro. — £.
19 This expression is entirely vague, and do« not even say which ^df
Wnor is inaeailt- We shall see afterwards that this project of Alrnagro to
appnipriate the southern part of Peru took place at a subsequent period^ ai^
involved the recent conquest in long and destructive civil wars.-~£<
^-yte
CHAT, ih SECT. II. btf Brancisco Piamrd,
it!
Pizarro,
whertu
tbie and
ber, certainly bad no jutt tide to demand any $hare in tht
treasure whicli Atabualpa paid for bis ransom, aitbey bad no
sbare in bis capture i yet thegeneral^ignedeacboftbem
20 marks, or ^000 pesos, a»a donative to keep tbem in
good biimour. •
Pizarro ihougbt it now incumbent upon nim to send intelli-
^nce to bis majesty of the success of lus enterprize, for wbicb
purpose he sent over his brother Ferdinand to Spain} and-
as. when he departed, the precious metals bad not been melted
or proved, so that it was impossible to ascertain what was the
exact share belonging to. the king, two thousand marks of
gold and twenty thousand marks of silver, were set apart for
wis purpose '"• In making the selection of articles to be
sent to Spain, the largest and finest pieces were chosen, that
tbey. might have a grander appearance : Among these were
several large vessels of various kinds and for different uses,
together with. figures of men and women and various aninal««
When Atahualpa learnt that Ferdinand Pizarro was to em-
bi^rk for Spain lie was much afflicted, having a great alfec-
tion for that gentleman, in whom he reposed implicit confi-
dence i and when Ferdinand came to take leave, he said to
him, ** I am sore afflicted at your departure, for I am mudi
afraid the big-bellv and the blinkard will put me to death in
your absence*** By the former be meant Kequelme the trca^
surer, who was very fat, and by the latter Almagro, wbo had
lost an eye, wbom be had observed frequently to mutter
against him, for certain reasons, which will appear in the se-
quel.
As Atahualpa suspected, Ferdinand Pizarro bad not bec|i
long gone, when the death of the unfortunate prince b^pin to
be talked of among the Spaniards. This was brought about
by the suggestions of an Indian named Philippillo, who had
accompanied the general into Spain, and now served him as
an interpreter with the Peruvians. He pretended that Ata-
hualpa had secretly laid a plan for destroying all the Spaniards;
tor which purpose he had a great number of armed nien con-
cealed in various places, meaning to employ them when «
favourable
90 Reclconing the mark at eifht ounces, the gold at L.4, and the silver at
5s- 6d. per oz. this royal fifth would come to L.108,000, and the wh«Ie
treasure to live times that sum, or L.540»000. But as the precious metals
were then worth at least tuc times as much as now, or would purchase six
times the amount of labour or necessaries, this first fruit of the conquest of
Peru exceeded the value of three millions stetiing.-— £.
W* ik»WfflM-«'. ^Jji».'
'■.^■^- rT«r<fr.»"n., r- - ..
m
tJonqiuit of Peru tkvr ii. took M
bvQtirable opportanity occurred. The prooife and examine
Mtion of facts and civeuniKtances r^tpecting'thit ailtged plot,
bad all to come throuflli Pillippillo. as the only dne Who knew
both langnaffei { andne gave sudi a turn to every thing at
bt»t suited nis own views and purposes. Accorcraig^v the
Spaniards were never i^le perfectly to f^'scover the ti'Uth»' or
fk> penetrate entirdv into his motives ibf this procedure. It
lias been allejged py some persons/ thM ^iUppiUb had be^
come amorous of oiie of the wives of Atahud^i ^l^^ whom
Jiecveh had a criminal intercourii6, and eiqpected'ltjci sdcur6
the quiet possession of bis mistress by the death of that mi-
fortunate prince. It wias even reported that AtAhu^lpa hi^
come to tne knowledge of that amour, and had com|)laiiied
to t*izarro of the criminal and even treasonable conduct of
the paramours ; which, by the laws of Peru, could only be
expiated by burning the guilty persons, putting to death afi
their ne&r relations, destroying all their cattle and substance,
laying waste the place of their birth, and sowing ^It on the
puce, so as to render the memory of the crime Infiubouafor
eyttv ' . • • ■**■'
' It has been alleged by others that the death of Atahualpa
was occasioned by the solicitations and intrigues of those
newly arrived Spaniards who accompanied Almagro, who
.j^sidereu his continuiiig to Hvis as prejudicial to their inte>-
rests. The soldiers of rizarro who were with him when Ata>
bualpa was taken prisoner, insisted that those who came with
"Almagrd hiad no riffht to participate in any part of the trea-
sure given or to be given on account ot his ransom, and
could noi Justly pretend to any $h&re of what might be coUect-
^iifd ^ntil au that Atahualpa had promised was entirely paid lib.
^T^esoldiers of Almagro, on the other hand, believed it to be
'for their interest that Atahutdpa should be removed out Of the
way; since as long as he might live, the soldiers of Pizarro
r would always pretend that ifi the treasury which might be
procured formed patl of his ransom, so that they would never
come in for any snare. However this might be, the death of
^that Unfortunate prince was resolved on, and even this de-
' termination was communicated to him. Astonished at this
£sttal intelligence, of which he had never entertained the slight-
est suspicion, Atahualpa urged his merciless conquerors to
confine him rather in a stricter captivity, or even to put him
»on board their ships. ** I know not," said he, ** how you
can possibly suppose me so stupid as to thiWk of i^
-%*i?
'. H: r
ctiAP;n* litct. ii, ly B^lkeiteo Finerro.
^
agaioit J01I in imr present Mi^i^dn. How can voii beUeva
^Me troopi whi<li yoto'iiiyf'Bre awembled, have tieen called
tpgeilieit by my oMlen ot bv oiv coniiont ? Am I not a prison-
eri in chanM^ -and ift your handht ? And is it not easy for yon
to (Mitf me to- deiUi whenever these pretended troomi maHai
their appearance f If you believe that my subjects wiO un4eip-
take any thtnjpr against you without my consent, you are ill
inftmiied of tne alMoiute authority I possess over di my
•tttgects, and the perfect obedience which it is thehr fflory to
render me on dl occasions. So to speak, the birds* do
not dare to fly* nor the leaves to move upon the trees without
my orders ; and how tfieh shall my subjects presume to go to
war against you withotit my consent."
' All that he could urge was of no avail, as his death was ab-
solutely resolved upon, although he o^red to ploce.hosta^
dTthebighe^t consideration in the hands of tne Spaniaras,
whose lives should be answerable for any of the Christiana
who might be slain or ill treated bv his supjects. Besides the
suspicions already mentioned, which were alleged against
Atahnalpa, it is said that he was accuse^ of the death of hia
brother Huascbr. He was condemned to die, and his sen^
te^oe was executed without delay. In his distress, he waa
Continually repeating the name of Ferdinand Pizarro { say-
ikig, if he had been present, h^ would not have allowed him
to oe thus unjustly put to deatfr* Shortly before his death,
be was persuaded by Pizairo aild Valverae to submit to the
ceremony of baptism ".
' *• While Alinagro and his followers q)enly demanded the
Hfe <^ Atahiialpa, and PhilippiHo laboured to ruin him by
private madiinations, that unhappy prince inadvertently con-
tributed io hasten his own fate. Ihirinff his confinement he
)u(d attached hiipself with peculiar afrection to Ferdinand
Pizarro and Hernando Soto { who, as they w6re persons of
birth and ediication sjuperior to the rough adventurers with
whom they served, were accustomed to behave with more de-
cency and attention to the captive monarch. Soothed with
thill respect from persons of such high rank, he delighted in
their society. But in the presence of the governor he was
always uneasy and overawea. This dread soon came to be
mingled
91 Of thutngictl event, the illustrimu Historian of America, gives a
somewhat diibrent accountj IL sio, from Hertwa and Garcilaisso dela
Vq^a : which, as much too long for a note, is subjoined in the text to the
iiarrative of Zarate, and distinguished by inverted commas.-~E.
\
i W
m
Cokfptist qfPira PABt ii» boo« ih.
mingled with contempt. Ampno all Uie European arti, that:
wdicn he va(09t admirM, wm nading and writing j and he long-,
deliberated with himielf, wnether bo thoiildr^rd i| a« a na-
tural oi' acquired talent In order to determine thin, ha desired ,
one oftheioldiert who guarded him,' to write the name of Ood
on the nail of lus thum£ This he diewed successively to sev»>;
ral Spaniardsiasking its meaning; and, to his amassment, they
all, without hesitation, gave the tame answer. At length Piz-
arro entered t and on presenting it to him, be blnshed, and
with some confusion was obligedto acknowledge his ignorance,
t'rom that moment, Atahualpa considered him as a meanperson,
less inxtructed than his own soldiers j and he had not address
enough to conceal the sentiments with which thii discovery
inn>iried him. To be the object of scorn to a ba^-harian, not
only mortified the pride of Pizarro, but excited stich resent-
ment in his> breast, as added force to all the other considera-
tions which prompted him to put the Incn to death.
** But in order to givesomecolour of justice, to this vio-
lent action, and that he himself might be exempted from
stondfaiff singly responsible for the commission of it, Pizarro
resolved to try the Inca with all the formalities observed in
the criminal courts of Spain. Pizarro himself and Ahnagro,-
with two assistants, were appointed muges, with fiiU power ta
acquit or condemn ; an attorney-^geri«;rd was named to carry
's name ) counsellors were chpcen
on the prosecution in the kin^s i
to assist the prisoner in his deff
prisoner m bis detence ; and clerks were ordain<<
ed to record the proceedings of court Before this strange
tribunal, a charge was exhibited still more amazing. It con-
sisted of various articles: That Atahualpa, though a bastardy
had dispossessed the rightful owner of the throne, and usurped
the regal power ; that ^e had put his brother and lawful so-
verei^ to ^eath ; that he was an idolater, and had not only
permitted, but commanded the oiiferinff of human sacrifices;
that he had a great number of concubines ; that unce his im-
prisonment he nad wasted and embezzled the royal treasures*
which now belonged of right to ^he conquerors ; that he had
incited his siil^ects to take arihs against the ^aniards. On
these heads of accusation, some of which are so ludicrous, and
others so absurd, that the effrontery of Pizarro, in making
them the subject of a serious procedure, is not less surprizing
than his injustice, did this strange court go on to trv the so-
vereign of a great empire, over whom it nad no jurisdiction,
y^lth respect t^ each of the articles, witnesses were examim^
cj^» VI. ticT. ti* bjf fr^iaco Pkano*
m
«d I but M they delivered their evidence in their native iotkgfiMf
PbilippiUo had it in hit power to give their vor^i whatever
tur^ De«t suited Lis malevolent inteptione. To judget pre-
determined in their opinion, this evidence appeared sufficient
They pronounced Atahualpa guilty, and condemned him to
be burnt alive. Friar Valverde prostituted the authorUy ai
his sacred function to confirm this sentenos, and bv jus sig*
nature warranted it to be just. Astonished at his nte^ Ata- .
hua^a endeavoured to avert it by tears, by promiseSf and bv
entreaties that he might be sent to Spain, where a monarch
would be the arbiter of his lot. But pity never touched the
unfeeling heart of Pizarro. He ordered him to be led in-
stantly to execution ; and, what added to the bitterness of his
last moments, the same monk who had just ratified bis doom,
offered to console, and attempted to convert him. The most
powerful argument Valverde employed to jprevail with hjm to
embrace the Christian faith, was a promise of mitigation in
his punishment. The dread of a cruel death extorted from
the trembling victim a* desire of receiving baptism. The ce-
remony was performed j and Atahualpa, mstepd of being burnt
alive, was strangled at the stoke.".
Ruminagtti, one of the captains under Atahuolpa* who had
fled with fivjB thousand men from Caxamarca, as ahready re-
lated, having arrived in the kingdom of Qwto, seised the
children of Atahualpa, and made himself master of that
country as if he had been the lawful sovereign. A short time
before his death, Atahualpa had sent his brother Illescas into
the kingdom of Quito, with orders to bring his children from
thence; but RuminM^ui nut only refused to deliver them up^
but even put them allto death. After the death of Atfihuu*
pa, some of his principal officers, according to his dying com-
mands, carried his body to Quito that it might be interred
beside the remains of his father Huana capoc. Ruminaguj
received ^them in the most honourable manner, with eveiy
outward mark of afTectionimd reject, and ouifed the boc^
of Atahualpa to be buried with much pomp and s<demnity«
according to the custom of the country. After the ceremony,
he gave a grand entertainment to the officers of the late un-
fortunate moparch, at which, when they were intoxicated, he
caused them all to be put to death, together with Illescas the
brother of Atahualpa. He caused this person to be flead
idive, and . had ^ drum covered with his skin, inclo)ung hi9
he^ jn the iuside of the drum.
. V9L. iv» \ c c After
♦»
Conquest of Peru vart ii. book ir.
After the governor Piscarro had made a repartition of all
the gold and tilfer which Wdt found in Caxamurca, he learned
that oAe of the ofllcen of Atahualpa, named Quizquiz, had
aMembled itome troops in the province of Xauxa **, and en-
deavoured to excite an insurrection in the country. Pizarro
therefore marched against him, but Quizquiz durbt n«)t wait
ibr him in Xauxa, and retreated to a greater distance. Pi-
zarro punned, cauiinff Hernando de Soto to lead tlie van with
a party of horse, white he led the rear or main body himself.
While advancing in this order into the jprovince of Kt/ca-
cinga**t Soto wan unexpectedly attacke<l by a vast body of
Peruvians, ami in fvreat danger of bemg totally defeated,
five or six o^ his men being iiwti { but on the approach of
night, the Peruvians retreated to a mountain, and the go-
vcmor sent on Aimagro with a reinforcement of cavalry to
Soto. Early next morning the fight was resumed, and th«
Spaniards' endeavoured to draw the Peruvians into the plain,
by pretending to retreat, that they might not be exposed to
the prodigious quantity of stones whicn the Indians hurled
down upon them from the mountain. The Peruvians seem-
ed awqre of thn stratagem, as they continued to defend their
position on the mountain } though they were not appriz(<d of
the reinforcement which Soto had received, as the morning
was thick and misty. Being unable to induce their enemies
to descend fi'om their advantageous situation, the Spaniards
assailed the Peruvians with so much resolution, that they
drove them from their position with considerable slaughter,
and forced them Co take to flight.
At this plnce^i a brother of the late Incas, Huascar and
Atahualpa, named Paul Inca *^, came to Pizarro under pre-
tence of entering into terms of peace and submission. Atler
the death of his brothers, this prince hod been recognised as
king of Peru, and had been invested with the fringed fillet,
which answered among the Peruvians as the crown or emblem
of supreme rule. The Inca told the governor that he had a
very considerable force of warriors in Cuzoo, aH of whom only
vraited
S3 Probably the district now railed Jauja : at the x and j have nearly the
same sound in Spanish' with the aspirated Greek. |. — £.
23 Apparently Guancavelicai in which is the town of Vika-bamba.^E.
84 Tnu name of Paulcoald hardiv be Peruvian. Manco Capac, a full
brother of Huascar, had been recognized as Inca at Cuzco; perhaps the
person named Paul by Zarate, is the same prince who is called Paalhi by
Oardlasso, aad noay have received that name in baptism at an after period
— E. U
VUAf. vt. net. n. by firatuitto Pi*&tf.
4d9
Waited hit amnJ to submit to hit orders. Pixarro accord*
ingly marched towank that city* and arriyed within sight of
it after n< veral days march. So thick a imoke was seen to
arise from the city, that Pizarro suspected the Peruvians had
■et it on fire, and immediately sent on a detachment of cavahy
to endeavour if possible to prevent the destruction of the city.
On their arrival near Cuzco, a vast body of Peruvians issued
fVom the city and attacked them with ffrcat violence, with
stones, darts, and other arms ; insomuch that the Spaniards
were forced to retreat above a league to rgoin the main body
of the arAiy which was commanded by rizarro in person.
He immediately detached the greater part of his cavalry un^
der the command of his brothers Juan and Oonzalo, who at-'
tacked the enemy with so much courage and impetuosity, that
they were soon defeated and many Peruvians were slain in
the pursuit. On tlie approach of niffht, Pizarro reassembled
nil his army, which he ordered to lie on their arms ; and
marched next morning with every precaution to Cuzco, which
he entered without opposition.
After remaining twenty days in Cuzco, Pizarro was in-
formed that the Peruvian General Quizquiz had drawn to-
gether a considerable body of warriors, with whom he pilla^
ed and raised contributions in a province named Condefugp *>.
The governor detached Hernando Soto with fifty horsemen
against Quizquiz, who did not think proper to await his ar-*
rival ; but he took the resolution of marching to Xauxa or
Jauja, on purpose to attack the burgage ana royal treasure
belonging to the Spaniards, which had been left there with a
guard, under the care of Requelme the treasurer. Although
the Spanish troops in Xauxa were few in number, they post-
ed themselves in a strong p4)sition, waiting the attack of
Quizquiz, and defended themselves so courageously that he
was unable to make any impression upon them, and accord-
ingly drew off his troops, taking the road to Quito. *The go-
vernor sent Soto after him with his detachment of cavalry,
and soon afterwards sent off his two brothers, Juan and
Oonzalo, to reinforce Soto. These three Spanish captains
pursued
65 This it probably an error of the pre» for Cendetugo. To the south
of Cusco, and in the plain of Peru, there are two contigtioui districts named
the Condesuyos of Arequipa and Cusco, which are probably the province
alluded to in the text. The term seenu Spanish ; but it is not unusual
with Zarate to substitute posterior names to those •i the period concemisf
which he writes.— E.
im
Couqmt of Peru
PA11T11..9901C m
pttrmtcd Qtoiaquiz nbove a hundred leagues, but were un-
ilblf to come U|} with him, and returned tnerefore to Cuzcp..
In that ancient capital of the Peruvian empire, Pizarro
and the Spaniards found a prodigious booty in gold nod silver^
m>t less in value than all thev had collected at Caxamarca for
tlie ransom of Atahualpa. He made a division of this among
his soldiers* and settled a coloiiy in Cuzco, which had long been
t|te capitalof the Peruvian empire, and continued to be so for
>l< considerable time under the Spaniards. He likewiM made
(\ repartition of Indians among such Spaniards as chose to
sjBttIc in the place as colonists : Only a &w, however, chose to
avail themselves of their advantage ; as a considerable propor-
tion of the Spaniards were better pleaded to return into Spain,
that they might enjoy in ropose the treasure which they had
acquired at vaxatnarca and Cuzco, Uian to remain in Peni^
** The riches displayed by the early conquerors of Peru on
their return among their astonished countrymen, had so
great an effect to inuuce others to try their fortunes in that
golden region, that the governors of Guatimala, Panama,,
and Nicaragi^ could hardly restrain the people under their
jurisdiction from abaqdoni^ig their possessions, ond crowding
to that inexhaustible source of wealth which seemed to ne
opened in Per^. la spite of every check or regulation, such
i[|iunbers resorted to tne standard of Pizarro, that he wa»<
soon enabled to take the field at the head of five hundred
men, besides leaving snfilcient garrisons in San Miguel and
Other places necessary for the (^fence of his conouesta *'". \
It has been already said that Pizarro, soon after his arri-
Yal in Peru, established a settlement at the town of San Mi-
guel in the province of Tangarara, not far from the harbour
of Tumbez *7, as a secure place of disembarkation for those
who came to join him from Spain. While he &ti\\ remained
at Caxamarca after the death of Atahualpa, on recollection
that he had left a weak garrison in San Miguel, the governor
thought proper to send a reinforcement of ten horsemen to
l^at place under the command of Bendcazar. Soon after
his turrivnl, a considerable number of Spanish soldiers came
there
2G This paragrsph ii added fron the history of America, U. 9l!l, to the
text of Zamtet u necesiary to account for the tubiequent opcratiom of.
Pixtrro, aftertheMctMioaof aconiidcrablepartofhis original foUowen.—
. 87 Tumbez •eema here subititutcd by mistake for Payta> S|ui Miguel
is: not Ims than ISO milei from Tumbez, and only about SO from Psyts-£.
'CHAt.vr. SECT. rt. bij JPrattcitco PiarrO,
W5
»tn
there from Panama and Nlcaragua» and Os iih6 Cagnikta
made loud complaints to him that they were oppressed by
Euminagui and the Peruvians of Quito, Bonolcator chose
two hundred of the new rccmits, ei^tv of whom were caval-
ry» witli whom he marched for Quito, because he was inform^
eel that Atahtialpa had Icfl a large quantity of gold In that
city, nnd that he might likewise protect the Caghares, who
had declared thcmiwlvcif the friends of the Spaniards. Ilumi-
nagui advanced with an army of more than tWelve thousand
Peruvians to defend the defiles of the mountains leading toi>
wards the kingdom of Quito, which he endeavoured to db
with considcraule judsmciit, taking advantage of the nature
of the ground, and flghtin^ only Tn places of difficult ap^
proach. Bdnalcazar, on his side likewise, joined stratagem and
military conduct to courage and prudence} for, while he
^occupied the attention of the enemy by frequent skirmisheH,
and demonstrations of attacking them m front, ho detached
•one of his officers with fifty or sixty horsetnen, who gained
{Mssession of a communcling po&t during the night on thb
rear of the Peruvians, so that he was abid next morning to
render himself easily master of the pass they hkd endeavour-
«d to defend. In this way, Benalcazargrodaally drov^tho
«nemy from their strong ground into the plain of Quito,
where they wore unable ro withstand the ehartfe of the caval-
ry and suftered considcrablv. Ruminagui still endeavoured
to make head in several difibrent posts, t^hich h^ carefully
forfeited with concealed pit-falls, digging for this purposb
•brood and deep ditches, in the bottom of which a numbef of
pointed stakes were set ttn, the whole covered over with
green turf held up by sleniler twigs, somewhat hke those del^
scribed by Ctesar as conU'ived by the inhabitants of Alesid.
But all the contrivances of the Peruvians for surprizing Be-
nalcacar,'0r for drawing him into their snores were quite un-
availing. He avoided them oil, ahd never attacked on die
side they expected; oilen making a drcUk of several leaguea
«o as to attack them unexpectedly on the flank and rear, and
■always carefully aToiding every piece of ground that had not
a natural appearance. The Peruvians tried another strat»-
gem, on seemff the former mlscarnr: They dug a great
number of smalt pits close to caok other, about the size of a
horses foot, in every place Around their camp where they
thought the cavalry might come to attack them. But all
their arts and labour were useless, as Bcnalcszar was never
off
^ r
danqiust of Pent part ii. book h.^
.off his guai^, and was not to be deceived by any of their
contrivances, so that they were at last driven all the way to the
city of Quito. It is reported of Ruminagui, that one day a&
ter his arrival in QuitO) where he had a great number of wives,
that he told them they might soon expect to have the plea-
sure of seeing the Christians, with whom they would have the
opportunity of diverting themselves ; and that, believing him
in jest, they laughed heartily at the news, on which he caused
most of them to be put to death. After this cruel deed, he
set fire to a large apartment filled with rich dresses and
valuable moveables belonging to the late Inca Huana Capac,
and retired from Quito, havmg first made another unsuccess-
ful attempt to surprise the Spaniards by a night attack, after
which Denalcazar made himself master of Quito with very
little opposition.
While these things were going on in the kingdom of Quito,
the governor Pizarro received information that Don Pedro
de Al^arado, who was governor of Guatimala, had embarked
with a considerable force for Peru, on which account he
deemed it proper to detach some troops under Almagro to
San Miguel, to inquire into the trudi oi that report and to pre-
:Vent the mvasion ot his government. As Almagro on his arrival
at San Miguel couM get no distinct accounts of the motions of
Alvarado, and was informed of the resistance made to Benalca-
sar in the kingdom of Quito by Ruminagui, he accordingly
marched there with his troops and formed a junction with Be-
nalca^sar, assuming, the command of the combined forces, a^
ter which he reduced several districts and fortified stations of
the natives. But, as he 'did not find any gold in that coun-
try, which was by no means so rich as he thought he had
reason to expect from report, he soon afterwards returned to-
•wards Cuzco, leaving the command in Quito to Benalcazar.
After the conquest of New Spain by the Mdrquis del Valle,
he detached one of his obtains named Don Pedro de Alva-
rado to a neighbouring country called Guatimala ; which that
qUcbt accordmgly reduced tosubjection after much trouble and
many dangers, and, as a reward of his services, was appointed
to the govemfnent of that province by the king of Spain. On
r eiving intelligence of the riches of the newly discovered
eilnpire of Peru, Alvarado solicited permission from the em-
peror Don Carlos to be permitted to undertake the conquest
o some pait of that country, beyond the bounds that had
|>een granted to Pizarro, and received a patent to that efiec^
Having
«HAF. VI. 8SCT. II. ^ Franciwo Pizarro.
407
Having received authority for tkis purpose, while he was
making preparations for the expedition, he toit one of his
officers, named Garcias Holguin, with two ships to examine;
the coast of Peru, and to gain some precise intelligence re-
specting its actual state From Ahe report of Holguin respect-
ing the immense qiuwitities of gold jwhich the governor Don
Francisco Pizarro had found in that country, Alvarado was
encouraged to proceed in his ente. prize ; nattering himself,
tihat whUe Pizarro and his troops were occupied at Caxamar-
ca, he might be able to acquire possession of Cuzco*^, which
he considered as beyond the two hundred and fifty leagues
which had been assigned as the extent of the government
conferred upon Pizarro. For the better execution of his de-
sign, and lest reinforcements might be sent from Nicaragua
to Pizarro, he came by sea to that place one night, where he
made himself master of two large ships which had been fitted
out there expressly for the purpose of carrying a large rein-
forcement of men and horses to Peru, lu these two ships,,
and in those which he -brought with him fi'om Guatimida,
Alvarado set sail with five hundred men, cavalry and infan-
try, and landed on the coast of South America at the harbour
ol Puerto Viejo. .
From Puerto Viejo, Alvarado marched almost due east
with his army, crossmg those mountains which separate the
plain country of Guayaquil from the table land of Quito,'
which th(e Spaniards call the Arcalntcos, being thickly cover«^
ed with brushwood, but over which the road is tolerably ea^
and only moderately steep, being almost under the equaton
In this march his men su^ered extremetly from hunger and
thirst, as the country through which they ^evA was very barm
xen, ai^d had .neither springs nor rivulets. The only relief
they could procure was firpm cert^iin large canes as thick as a
mans 1^, in each of the joints of which they usually found
rather more than a quart of excellent wate^. They were so
much distressed by tamine on this march as to be under the
necessity of eating several of their horses, the flesh of which
sold so high that a depd horse brought more money on this
occasion tiian he had cost when living. iQesides thirst and
famine, they were very much distressed duriug a considerable
part of the way by quantities of hojt ashes ft^ng upon them,
which
S8 Froii(i ,tihe.*ubsttiuent operstions of Alvarado, thii seems an error of
the yatH for Quito.— £.
40t
ClMffHeH %f Feru #art ii. aook ir.
which thcnr lAenrtfds Itemt w«re thiWm tt{) by a tolctfio hi
the ncigkboul'hood of Quito, which tmims with lodi violence
t)iai it» aabte are often carried by the wind to the distance of
eighty kfl^es, and. iti noise Kke prodigions thnndct it tonte*
time*, beard at a hundred leagues from Quito. In the whole
nmrch, which wiwheariyundier the eqninoctitd line, the troops
of Alvarado found everywhere abundance of emeralds. After
a lang and diiBcult nuirch through these aivabucos, where
they were f^i^r the most part oUiged to cut their way through
the thick bntthwood by means of axes and their swords, thev
came at length to a high chain of mountains covered with
snow, over which it was necessary to pass. In this difficult
and dangerous passage by an extremely narrow road, it snow-*
ed almost continuitliy, and the cold was so extremely severe,
Att although ei^erv one put on all the clothes they had along
with tfaMnn, more than rixty meti perished f^om the extreme
sewrity of the weadier. Chie of the soldiers happened to be
aecoinpanied by his wife and two young children, atfd seeing
thenientirdy worn out with fatigue, while he washable to
assist them, 1^ preferred to remain with them and parish, al-
though Ken^Rt have saved himselH At length, after infi-
nite toil and danger, th^ found that they had reached the
top of the immntain, and b^gan joyfully to descend into the
lower grounds of the kingdom of Quito, It is true that in
this (iouittry they Ibund other high mountains covered like-
witf with smMr*, as the province is entirdy surrounded and
inlerflpcfrsed wiUy mountains ; hut then there are many tem-
per&te valliei wnonff these mountains, which are well peopled
ind cultivated. Aoout this time, so great a quantity of show
melted suddenly on one of these mountains, producing such
|»odigiou» torrents of water, that the valley and vills^ ca Corim
tt^a wcsre entirely overwhelmed and inundated, tnese tor-
ieaiM bring down immense quantities of stones, and even vast
firagmente crfrocht with as much ease i» if Uiey were only
pieces of corii.
It has been already s*id that Almagro had left Bebalcazar
m the govenmiefit of Quito, meaning to return to Ctnto, be^
came no intelligence had reached him of the motions of Al*
vflrado } and mniCion has been mode of his hating reduced cer-
taiin i^oeks an^ ft^resses into which the Indians of Quito had
fetired to defend themselves. This had occupied him so long,
that Alvarado had penetrated into the province of Quito before
Almagro had returned into the south of Fertt} being stOl em-
u ployed
etiAP. yt. SECT. it. by T'ranciseo Plxbrro.
4tfiF
ployed in rcdacing the soutliern district* of Quito. He re-
ceired^the first intelligence of the arrival of Alvarado -while
rednciilg the pt&nnce of Liribamba ", for which purpose he
hod to pass a considerable rivet with much difficulty and dan-
ger, OS the Indians had destroyed the bridges, and' waited on
the other side of the river to attack him while passing. He
defeated them, though with much dii&tulty, as the Indians
'^weTe very numerous, and their wives fouglit as bravely as the
men, being very expert in slinging stones. In this engage-
ment the nead cacique of the Indians was made prisoner,
and from him Almagro got the fitsf intelligence of the arrival
, of Alvarado, who was then only at the distance of about sixty
miles, employed in reducing an Indian fortress into which
erne df the captains of the Indians had retired, whose namd
was ^iOpazojraqui. On receiving thid news, Almagro sent
•even horsemen td inouire into its truth, and^ to bring him
exact iidbrmation of the strength and intentions of Alvarado.
llie^ilere all made prisoners by the troops of Alvarado,
who Ky^ted thetn some time afterwards. Alvarado advan-
ced Wffi^ his troops within less than twenty miles of the camp
of Almagro, who, considering the great superiority in num-
% ber possessed by Alvarado, formed the resolution of return*
' ing to Cnzco with an escort of twenty-five horse, and to leave
; I the remainder of his troops under Benalcazor for the defimce
v^ of the country.
At this time, Phflipillo, th& Indian intefrpreter who has
r been already mentioned as the cause of the death of Atahoal-
^ pa, fearing to incur the punishment of his treachery, fled from
the camp of Almagro to that of Alvarado, takins along with
him a principal Peruvian cacique. These men had concert-
ed with nlost of the Peruvian curacas or chie& who acccmpa-
f liied Almagro, to hold themselves and their people in readi*
«f ness to abandon him and to join Alvarado at the earliest no-
tice sent them for that purpose. Immediately on his arriving
in the presence of Alvarado, Philipillo offered to make him
niaster of the whole country, informing him at the same time of
the design of Almagro to retire to Cusco, and that if he chose
to attack him without delay he might easily make him prison-
> 6r, as he had only about eighty horsemen and a hundred and
^ fifty infantry. On this advice, Alvarado marched immediate-
.*- . . ■ . ^
fi» PrbbiUy tkit now called Rtobamba by the Spaluwils, about 100 milet
Muth {rem Quito.— £.
■
i.
1
!
r
V Coftquefi qfPeru PA^T H. BOOK II.
]y to attack Aliuoero, vihom lie found 9t Liribamba, resolvedr
to defend hiinselt'bravely, and to die fightina rather dian fly.
Almagro had thrown up intrencbments for bis de^cet hav-
ing divided his small party into two bands, one of which he
con^manded in person, and placed the other pnder the com^
mand of Benafcazar. Alvarado marched up with his troops
in order of battle } but when just on the point of commencing
the attack, certain propositions of peace were made, and a
truce was agreed upon for the rest of the day and the ibllow-
ing night, on purpose to agree upon conditions ^<'. In a con-
ferrence for this purpose, an agreement was entered into,
which was greatly forwarded by a licentiate named Caldera.
It was agreed that Almagro should pay to Alvarado 100,000
pesos, or 2000 marks of gold ", as an equivalent for the ex«
pences he had incurred in fitting out his expedition, and tliat
the two commanders should go together to Pizarro, for the
purpose of procuring the necessary funds for payment of this
agreement llie conditions were kiept secret, lest th^j^com-
panions of Alvarado mijght prevent Ui^ir execution, ||§their
interest had been entirely overlooked in this ag^Mnent.
It was therefore given out that Alvarado was to emba:^
with his people to make farther discovery of the country,
leaving that part which was already occupied and conquered
by the Spaniards, and permisuon was f^ven to all who thought
proper tnat they might remain at Quito with Benalcazar. A
considerable number of the followers of Alvarado availed
themselves of this permission, and others accompanied him
and Almagro to Pachacamac, where they were informed Pi-
zarro had gone from Xauxa expressly to receive them. Be-
fore leavins the province of Quito, Almagro ordered the c«->
raca who deserted from him along with PhilipiUo to be burnt
dive, and would have treated the interpreter in the same
manner, but Alvarado interceded for him, and obtained his
pardon.
'While Almagro and Alvarado were on their march from
the province of Quito for Pachacamac, the curaca or chief
of
30 Garcilasso says that the soldiers of both armies^ being mostly native*
•f Estremedura, mixed together without permission of their officers, an4
made propositions of peace and amity, by which the general* were in a great
measure forced to an agreement.
9i Two thousand marks of gold of eight ounce* each, and the ounce
at four pound Sterling are worth L- 64,000, perhaps equivalent to acar
L. 400,000 of modem money.— E. s,;i
CBABi VI. SECT. XI. h/ Francisco Pizarro.
'H
of the Coffnares, informed them that the Peruvian general
<Quizquiz had nnscmblcd nn army of above 12,000 men, with
Which he had collected all the people and cattle of the coun-
try between and Xauxa, and intended attacking them on
their march. This chief added, that if they would delay
their march for some time, he would contrive a plan for de-
livering Quizquis into their hands. Almngro was not dispos-
,ed to put too much confidence in this proposal, and continued
Ijis journey. On arriving in the province of Chaparra '•,
they unexpectedly fell in with above two thousand Peruvian
warriors commanded by a curaca named Sotaurco. This
was the advanced guard of Quizquiz, whose main body was
two or three days march in the rear. Quizquiz had a similar
detachment at a considerable distance on his left flank, on
purpose to raise contributions of provisions from the inhabi-
tants of the country for the subsistence of his army ; and had
besides a|rear guard of three or four thousand warriors, two
days nsHch behind. The main body under his own imme-
diate <apmand f'-'^'^rted all the cattle which had been c(^ect-
/ed on ffle march, and gre«it numbers of prisoners, so that his
whole army occupied a space of above sixty miles of country.
Sotaurco, the commander of the Peruvian vapguard, en-
deavoured to gain possession of a delile or pass in the moun- *
tains, by which he supposed the Spaniards intended to march j ^
but Almagro not only prevented the execution of that pro-
ject by seizing the pass, but even made Sotaurco prisoner.
From him Almagro was informed of the order of march ob-
served by Quizquiz, and determined to make a forced march
with all his cavalry to attack him. In this march, at a steep
stoney p.(ss near a river which it was necessary to pass, most
of the horses lost their shoes ; and as it was in the night, the
Spaniards had to replace them as well as they could by the
%ht of fires and candles. Being afraid lest Quizquiz might
be informed of their approach oy some of the natives of the
country, Almagro continued his march with all possible ex-
pedition, and towards the evening of the second day of his
inarch he came in sight of the Peruvian camp.
Immediately on seeing the Spaniards, Quizquiz withdrew
to some distance with all the women and people who were
^ jinfit ibr battle, and placed his troops in a post of very difii-
cult
J-
38 Perhaps that now called Xibarros, In the south of the kingdom of
Quito.- E.
41t
Conquest of Peru iPAitT ti. book ti.
cult access under l^e command of Huaifpalea^ a brother of
the late inca Atahuolpa. Aknaoro advanced without hflsit»-
tion to attack them* although the horses were so weary that
they were hardly able to move though led mostly by the sol-
diers I besides which the Peruviana rolled down upos them
from the mountain great quantities oT large stones and fVaff-
ments of rock. In spite of every obstacle, the Spaniaran
made their wav to the post occupied by Huaysalca, which
they attacked both in front and flank, aad forced him to re-
tire among the steep rocks, where he defended himself till
night, and then drew off under cover of the darkness to rejoin
Quiznuiz. Sometime afterwards, it was learat that die de-
tached party of Peruvians which marched on the left of Quiz-
qui^, had made prisoners of fourteen Spaniards, all of whom
they put to death. Almagro, in continuing his march, was
opposed by the Peruvian rear-guard at the passage of a river,
so that he was unable to get over for a whole d«y. /jBesides
occupying the opposite bank of the river, the Perumbs had
taken possession of a very high mountain inunedia^|p above
the place odcupifd by the Spaniards, so that they w^^ unable
to attack the eiiemy without exposins themselves to great
danger ; and indeed a good many of the Spaniards were
wounded, among whom Alfonso de Alvarado was pierced
quite through the thigh by a javelin, and ancxther omcer of
rank was severely wounded. The Peruvians kept firm all
night, but in the morning they abandoned their post on the
banks of the river, leavinsr the passage free for the i^aniardsu
The Indians had burnt all the Daira;age which they could not
not carry off, but above 15,000 l^ruvian sheep were found
in their camp, and more than four thousand Indian men and
women, of those whom Quizquiz had made prisoners, who
now voluntarily surrendered themselves to the Spaniards. The
Peruvian warriors had retired to a strong; post on the top of
a mountain, ^^-here Almagro did not think nt to attack them,
as he was desirous to continue his march to the south.
On their arrival at San Miguel, Almagro sent the Captain
Diego de Mora to Puerto Viejo, to take the charge of the
vessels belonging to Alvarado, who likewise sent Oarcias de
Holguin on his part, that this measure might be executed
amicably according tO f^reement After giving all the ne-
cessary orders at San Miffuel, and having provided his own
men and those of Alvarado with arms, money, and clothes,
he and Alvarado contiiiued their journey towards Pacha^
camac.
cif A?. Yi> mcT. II. Ijjf Francisco Fizarro,
41f
camac. In th^ course cf hit marcht he left Captain Martin
Astete to build and settie a town now called TruxUlo, in s
convenient situation on the coast, in pursuance <^ orders to
that effect from the ffovemor Don Francisco Pizanro.
About this time Qaizquiz, having continued his march to-
wards QuitOf had his advanced guard attacked and defi»ted
by one of the officers belonging to Benalcazar. Quizquiz waa
much afflicted by this loss, and Icnew not well what to do or
bow to conduct himself. The curacas or native chiefs in hi»
army advised him to make his peace with Bcnakaza^ ; but
he would not listen to this proposal, even threatening to put
them to death if they ever mentioned such a thing again, and
ordered them to prepare for returning into Peru. But, as
they were in want of provisions, and had no hopes of procur-
ing any in the retreat which Quizquiz meditated, several of
the curacas, at the head of whom was Hoaypalca, remonstrat*
ed with him that it was better to die like orave men in iMttle
against the Spaniards, than to retreat as he desired and to
die of tJHliine in a desert country. As Quizquiz. gave a very
unaatisl^etory answer to this remonstrance, Huaypaica gave
him a thrust in the breast with his lance, and all the other
curacas fell upon him witli their clubs and axes, cutting hint
to pieces. Aner this they dismissed tlie troops, aSowing every
one to flo where he pleased.
On the arrival of Almagro and Alvarado at PachacamaCf.
iliey were joy fully received bythe governor, who had come thaw
from Xauxa to meet them. Pizarro honourably fulfilled the en-
tire agreement which Ahnogro had made with Alvat2do,by thf
payment of the stipulated sum of 100,000 gold pesos ; thoug]|
several persons remonstrated against payitig so large a sum, and
alleged that Ahnogro had been constrained to enter into the
agreement by necessity, and that Alvarado, instead of receivV
ing so much money, deserved to be sent prisoner into Spaing*
for havins invaded the government bdo^ngto another per<r
son. Ai&r receiving the money, Alvarado returned qnietlyl' ;
tc his government of Ouatimula ^K
After the departure of Alvarado, the governor Pizarro be<r
gan the establishment of a colony or settlement in the district
of Pachacamc:; which he nam^'d Cittdad de los Btyes, or the
City
38 According to Oarcilasio, Pizaxro made an additiooal free gift to AW
vanulo cH so,ooo gold pesos to defray the expence of his voyage back to hit
govenuaent, with emeralds and turquoises to a conndcrablt vsluej and sevs»
ral article* of goU plate for the use of bis table.-^£.
C;
\
i
i
/'
If
V
Conquest of Peru part ii. b6ok if.
City of the Kings, otherwise called Lima, to which place he
removed the colonists whom he Imd formerly established at
Xauxa or Jauja ; as tlie situation of Lima appeared to him
exceedingly well cakalatcd for trade, being near the sea ^*.
From that place, Almagro went witli a considerable force to
Cuzco, and Piznrro visited Truxillo on purpose to place that
colony on a proper footing, by making an equitable reparti-
tion of the lands and Indians among the colonists.
While at Truxillo, Pizarro received information that Al-
magro was inclined to take possession of the city of Cuzco,
havmg been apprized by Ferdinand Pizarro, who was sent to
Spain, that his majesty hud appointed him a separate govern-
ment extending a hundred leagues beyond tfie lioundaries
which had been assigned to Pizarro, and which Almagro al-
leged wore considerably to the north of Cuzco. Juan and
Gonzaio Pizarro, brothers of the governor, who were then in
Cuzco, and several other persons of consideration, vigorously
opposed Aimugro and Hernando Soto, who took t|ie part of
Almagro, and a civil w^ar seemed on the point of tn^aking
out : But Almagro w^as unable to succeed in his deftign, as
the great majority of the senators or members of the Ca-
bildo took the part of the governor and his brothers. Imme-
diately on receiving intelligence of these disputes, Pizarro
posted with all expedition to Cuzco, where he soon re>estal>
fished tranquillity by his presence. He pardoned Almagro,
who was much ashamed of having occasioned so much con-
ftision by attempting a matter of such high importance on
such slight grounds as a mere hearsay or report. The an-
cient friendsllip and association between Pizarro and Alma-
gro was renewed, and it was agreed that Almagro should go
with a military force on discovery to the south, and if he
found any country worth taking possession of, that the asso-
ciates were to use their joint interest at the court of Spain to
procure the government of it for him ; but, if no good ttoun-
try were to be found, the government of Peru was then to be
divided between Pizarro and Almagro. This agreement was
Solemnly ratified by oath upon the consecrated host, pledging
themselves
34 Lima or Los Reyes Is built on the banks of a river named Rimac or
Limac by the Peruvians, whence its ordinary name of Lima. It is about
t£n miles from the sea, having a port named Callao at the mouth of the ri-
ver. This city got the name of the City of the Kings; either from its fouu'
dation being laid on the ISth of January 1535, on the festival of the three
iingj ; or in hdnour of Juana and Carlos, joint sovereigns of Castile. — E. •.■}
criAP. VI. 8BCT. li. 6y Francisco PizOfro.
4tl
as
tHnnsoIvef never to attempt in fatnl^e to do any thins con-
trary to the Intercstii of «ach other. Some have said that
Alniagro, on this occmion, swore thut he would never make
any future attempt upon Cuceo, or any part of the country
to the distance or a hundred and thirty leagues to the soutn
of that city, even in the event of being named by the king to
to it* gtfvemment ; and they add, that in addressing himself
on this occasion to the holy body of Christ, he uMd these
words, ** If I should violate the oath which I now make, I
pray, O Lord ! that thou mayest punish and confound me
in body and soul."
After this solemn agreement; Almi^ro prepared every
thing for his denture, and accordingly set out with above
five hundred mni, as shall he related in the next section.
Pizarro returned to Limn, whence he sent Alfonso de Alva-
rado to conquer the country of the Chachapoyas, which is ia
the mountainous region of Peru about sixty leagues from
Truxillo. This oflScer and his followers encountered much
difficulty and labour in this enterprize, in which fhey at
1( igth succeeded, by forming establishments and reducing
the inhabitants to submission ; after which, the government
of the province was conferred upon Alvarado, by whom the
conquest had been effected.
Seci'ion IIL
Occurrences from the departttrc of Almagro for Chili, to his
capture by Pizarro, being thejlrst part of the civil Wars in
Pent.
'•
In consequence of the agreement between ^zarro and AI-
magro, which was ratified on the 12th of June 15S5, Alma-
gro soon afterwards set out upon the proposed discovery and
conquest at the head of five hundred and seventy men, partly
cavaJry and part infantry » for so great were the hopes of ac-.
quiring riches in this expedition, that several who had already
ocquiied establishments in Peru, abandoned their houses,
lands, and Indians, to ft^ow the fortunes of Almagro '. Juan
de
1 Though not mentioned directly in the text, it appears that Almagra
.kntw of SM iateade4te conquer the country of ^hili^^atd that he chose to
marcb
I
I
i:
(\
V
/.' •
I
I
I
7
r
41«
Coftquest qfPerti, tkvt II. ApoK IT.
de Sanvcdra wim lent on before the main body of the army
with % detachinent of a hundred men i and* in the course of
his march through that proTitice which has since been called
J/)t Charcas, h^ met with some Iiidian« on their rood from
Chili to Peru, who were going to pay their homage to the
Inca. Aimagro having along with nim a bodv of two hun-
dred men, both horie and foot, made a march of two hun«
dred and ^fty leaauee, reducing the whole country in hiti
way, till he arriteuin the district of the dtcAat, where he
learnt that he wan followed by a body of fifty Spaniards com-
manded by Niguerol de Ulloa. Alinagro commanded that
paKty to join him, and continued his march towards Chili,
whiw is 350 leagues beyond the province of Chiehas, redu-
cing all the tribes on Ids route to submissionr Aimagro halt-
ed at this plitco with half his troops, and sent on the rest un-
der Gomez de Ahrarado, who proceeded sixty leagues farther s
but was forced to return to Aimagro, in conbequence of the
severity of the weather.
After t)ie departure of Almaoro from Cuzco, the Inca
Manco Capac and hii, brother Vulaoma entered into a plot
for mas«acrfaig, all the Spaniards in Peru on a certain day.
Manco Capac had engaged execute to that part of the con-
spiracy which had for its object the destruction of Aimagro
and his troops, but whidi he was unable to accomplish.
What was done by his brother will be related afterwards.
Philipillo, the Peruvian interpreter who has been former-
ly mentioned, was acquainted witli this conspiracy, on which
accent he made his escape from AJma^ro, and being pur-
sued and taken was condemned to be quartered. Before his
execution, he confessed that he had unjustly procured the
death of Atahualpa, that he might thereby secure to himself
one of the wives of that unhappy prince, of whom he was
enamoured.
About two months after the arrival of Aimagro in Chili,
one of his captains named Ruy Dias came to him with a re-
inforcement of a huiuJred men, and informed him that all
the natives of Peru had revolted and had massacred most of
the Spaniards in that country. Aimagro was much grieved
Pt
march by the high country of Peru, through the great elevated valley of the
lake Titicaca, orobably the highest iohabited land of South America. His
Abject was in all probabilitj to avoid the extensive desert of Atacama., which
4iivide9 the plaio of Peru from Chili. — E.
CHAr. ru siCT. iii. /^ Frandteo l^izarr;
llf
a.
at thU intelligence, and resolved immediately to retdrn, that'
he might cbaatite the revoltcn and reetore the country to'
obedience { meaning afterwards to send one of his capfainii
with a sufficient force to reduce Chili. He accordingly set^
out on his return, and was met on his way by Kodrigo Or-
KOgncz, who brought him a reinforcement of twenty-ftvemen^-
nnd was soon afterwards joined by Juan de Herrada with a'
farther reinforcement of u hundred. Herrada brought him
likewise the letters patent of the king, by which he was ap-
pointed governor of two hundred leagues of country beyond
the boundaries assigned to Pizarro. This new government
which was grouted to Almagro was directed to be named
the New Kingdom of Toledo, and that of Plzarro, the New
Kingdom of Castille. Having said at the commencement of
this section, that Almagro cartieil with him from Guzco on
this expedition a force of .570 Spanish troops | it mu«t be re*
markeu that such was his intention, but that in reality he had
only '200 men along with him, after which his army was
made up nearly to the intended number by the diflbrent re-
inforcements of which we have made mentioui
In the march of Almagro into Chili, his army suffered ex-'
cessive hardshipit from hunger and thirst. Besides their
other fatigues, they had often to encounter Indians of great
stature, clothed in the skins of sea-wolves and seals, who used*
the bow and arrow with great strength and oddressi But
the most severe rin uinstunce during this march Was the in-'
tense cold whi«. n they encountered in passing over some moun-
tains coveriHl with snow. In particular, several of the soklienr
belonging to K>ny Dias and a good many horses Were frozen
to death ; and so excessive was the cold, that when Almo^
gro returned towards Cuzco five months afterwards, several
of the bodies of those who had been frozen to death were
found upright and leaning against the rocks, still holding the
bridles of their hor«e)*, which were likewise frozen, and their
tlcsh still remained as sweet and uncorrupteH as if tl.cy had
only ju!»t expired, insomuch that the troths u!>ed the flesh of
these horses as food on their return to Peru. In some parts
of these deserti where there was no snow, the Spaniards were-
reduced to great straits from want of water } on which ac«
count they nod to make bags or leather bottles of the skins of
sheep, in which to carry water for their supply.
It is proper to remark, that the Peruvian sheep are much
larger animals than those of Europe, and are uifd <*^ b«afit»
VOL. IV. D d ' of
♦»»
Gwtimt qfPeht tjkjra ii. icoii u
ofbur^. They resemble m some toieasure the caiml iii!
their tih^pe, except that thev have no hunches on ^eir backi,
and 8i« able to carry a load of a hundred pounds or more,
with which they are able to travel four or five leaauen a-day.
liie Spaniards even 8ometiBie! rode on their backs. When
&timiM^ thepr immediately lie down, and it is impossible to
mak« them Hse again by any means whatever, neither blows
xior kindness are of any avail* and it becomes necessary to
unload them. When a person rides on one of these animals,
and endeavours to urge it on when wearv, it turns round its
hefui towards the man, blowing upon him a most ofii'nsive
breath mixed with a kind of stinking dew, which seems to
proceed from the contents of its stomach. This is a most
useful and profitable animal, as besides serving as a beast bt
burden, its wool is excellent and very fine ; more especially
that species which is called pacos, which has very long wool.
These animals are supported at very little expence while on a
journey, requiring only a very small allowance of maize, and
they can subsist four or five days without drinking. Their
flesh is well tasted and wholesome, and equal to the best fat
mutton of iSpaia ; and it is accordingly sold in all the butcher-
maritets of Peru. At the fir^t settlement of the Spaniards in
tiiis country, before the establishment of regular markets,
when any person killed one of these sheep* his neighbours
used to participate, and they in their turns killed others, and
divided them among the neighbours.
In some of the level plains of Peru there is a ^ecies of
ostrich, which is taken in the foild'ving manner. Several
horsemen place themselves in ambush, while others likewise
on horseback pursue 'the ostriches and endeavour to drive
them towards their companions who are concealed. These
birds, although they are unable to rise in fii-^ht into the air,
go with astonishing swiftness, partly by running, and partly
by means of short flights close to the ground, insomuch that
a man on horseback is altogether unable to get up with them,
SO that it requires stratagem to kill or take them alive.
*: In Chili there are some rivers which have water only dur-
ing the day, and are entirely dry during the night. This is
owing to the heat of the sun melting the snow on the moun-
tains by day, by which temporary rivers, or torrents rather,
are formed by day, which cease again at night when the cold
puts a stop to the melting of the snow. VVhen we have got
about 5Q0 leagues along the coast from Peru: towaids the
^•■■'-•- , h-^'— south,
CHAP* VI* SBCT. nu btf Francisco Pizarto.
4111
lich that
them,
ily dur»"
rhis is
mouu-
rather,
ie cold
ave got
ds the
south,
south, or in the lat. of about 80*^ S. rain is often met with,
and the winds are no longer so regular as nearer the line, but
bkyw sometimes one way and sometimes another, as in Spain
and other countries of Europe. Chili is a tolerably wqU
peopled country, and resembles Peru in being divisible into
two districts, the plain and the mountain, and' its coast it
considerably more indented by gulfs and bays than that of
Ftoru*. It enjoys the vicissitudes of summer and winter near*
ly as in ISpain, out at opposite times of the year, the winter <
of Ghili being at the same time with the Spanish summer,
and vice versa. The pole seen from that countr}', which is
directly opposite our Arctic or north pole, is only marked by
a kind of small white cloud or ncbub, which is seen after
sunset in that direction in which astronomers have placed the
antartic or south pole. There is likewise seen a constellatibtt
of seven stars, four of them being in form of a cross, followed'
by three others, resembling the lesser bear of the astronomers
which turns round the north polar star. These seven stars
near the south pole are situated somewhat like those of the
ursa minoTf except that the foiir which form the cross are
nearer each other than those of the north pole which are seen
in our hemisphere. Our north pole is lost sight of some-
what less than 200 leagues to the south of Panatna, under the
equator ; from whence, or a little beyond, on either side of
the fine, these two constellations may be seen when they rise
a little above the poles of the horizon. On the soUtb side of T
the equinoctial line, navigators are only able to sec the four
stars near the antarctic pole which form the cross, until they
reach the thirti^h degree of south latitude, after which thdy
get sight of the other three stars which form this constella-
tion.
The change in the lengtl. of the days and nights in Chili
is nearly the same as in Spain, only the longest day in ChUi
is at that time of the year when Spahi has the day shortest.
In Peru and Tierra firma, and generally in all places near the
equinoctial line, the days and nights are always equal Ornear^'
ly so during the whole year. Even at Lima and other places
the difference is so small as hardly to be noticed. The natives
2 Prom the desert of Atacama In lat 95* S. to the island of Chlloe in
abont lat. ^2'> S. Chili Proper, between the Pacific ocean and the western
ridge of the Andes, stretches about 1 100 English milei nearly north and south
by an average breadth of about 140 mlies. — E.
430
Conquer of Peru part ii. book ii.
K
of Chili are clothed nearly in the same manner with the Pe-
ruvians, and use the same kind of food. The inhabitants,
l>oth men and women, are tolerably well looked. They are
(governed b> great lords^ who make war against each other,
and some of whom are able to bring 200,000 men into the>
field. One of these lords at this time was named Leucken-r ,
gdrmttf who possessed an island about two leagues from the ,
coast which was consecrated to his idols, in which was a tem-
ple ministered to by two thousand priests. The subjects of
Lcuchengorma informed the Spaniards, that there was a great
province about fifty leagues farthe. on, situated between two
rivers, which was entirely inhabited by women, who did not
admit any mm among them biut at certain times, for the pur-
pose of having children, and who sent all their sons to their
fathers, reserving their daughters only to be brought up
among themselves. They said farther, that these women
were subjects of Lcuchengorma, and were ruled over by a
queen named Gtuihoymilla^ which signifies golden heaven in
their language, and so named because her country produces
a great quantity of gold. These women manufactured rich
stufls, in which, and in the gold produced in their country,
they paid tribute to Leuchengorma. Although these things
have often been spoken of, their truth has not as yet been as-
certained by the discovery of the country, AlmKgro having
made no establishment there. Of late, indeed, Pedro de Vai-
divia has been sent thither to establish some colonies, but he
has never yet had a suificient force lor making discoveries, or
for colonization, and has settled one colony only, which
is placed about thirty-three degrees to the south of the equa-
tor ^
The whole coast of Chili is well peopled, as far as to the
latitude of 40° south and still farther ; which is known by one
f)f the ships belonging to the fleet sent out by Don Gabriel
de Carvajal bishop of Placentia, which passed through the
straits of Magellan, and sailed along the whole western coast
of South America from south to north, and at length reach-
ed the port belonging to Lima. I'his ship brought over the
fiist rats ever seen in Peru, which have so mumplied since
that there are plenty in every town of the whole country.
These
3 Valpara^'so stands nearly in the latitude Indirated by the text. Valdi-
via, takiqg its nauie from that commander, is in lat. 30° 40 S.— £.
CHAP. VI. SECT. III. 6tf Francisco Pharro.
4S1
These animals are named ococha by the Peruvians} which
word signifies having come from the aea.
Soon after the departure of Almagrofrom Cuzco on his
expedition to Chili, Ferdinand Pizarro returned from Spain,
where his majesty made him a knight of the order of St Jago,
with other advantages ^. He had likewise obtained an en-
largement of the government of his brother to a certain ex-
tent, and brought out with him a commission for Almagroto
a new government.
At this time Manco Capac, whom Pizarro had permitted
to assume the nominal title of Inca of Peru, was detained a
prisoner in the citadel of Cuzco, in consequence of the dis'
covery of a conspiracy he hod entered into widi his brothers
Paul and Villaoma to exterminate the Spaniards. Manco
Capac wrote to Juan Pizarro, intreating to be set at liberty
before the arrival of Ferdinand Pizarro at Cubco ; and Juan,
who was then in the Collao endeavouring to reduce certain
^rdians who hod retired into a strong place among rocks,
V 4t orders to liberate the Inca. On tlie arrival of Ferdi-
..ciud Pizarro at Cuzco, he treated Manco Capac with much
respect, yet kept a constant guard over him, and it is believed
that Ferdinand shewed great friendship for the Inca, in the
hope of procuring gold from him, to send to the king of Spain
or for his own use. Two months after the return of Ferdi-
nand to Cuzco, Manco Capac solicited permission from Fer-
dinand to go into the district of Jt/coya' on purpose to ce-
lebrate a solemn festival, promising on his return to present
him with a statue of the late Huana Capac of solid gold as
large as life. Ferdinand allowed him to attend thin restival,
which turned out|merely the unravelment of the plot which
liad been formed at the time when Almagro began his march
for Chili. Manco Capac gave immediate orders to put to
death some Spaniards who superintended the working of the
mines, and others who were travelling through tku country
on various affairs. He sent likewise one of his c{^tains witli
a considerable body of troops against Cuzco, who by a sudden
and
ValdU
4 Zarate is extremely remiss in regard to dates, and not a little confused
in the arrangement of his narrative. We learn from Robertson, II. 325,
that Ferdinand Pizarro returned to Peru in 15S6. — £.
jf According to Robertson, II. S26, the place where the festival was to
be celebrated was only at a few leagues distance from Cuzco. Garcilasso
says that it was a garden belonging to the Incas only a league from the
city. — E.
4fe
Conquesi of Peru vakt xi. buoK ii.
^*
and unexp^ted attack got possession of the castle of that city.
The Spaniards indeed retook it after six or seven davst yet
not without hard fighting, in which they lost Juan Pizarro ;
who was killed by a stone which struck him on the head, at
aiime when he was unable tc wear his helmet in consequence
«f a former wound. Hiu death was much regretted by the
Spaniards, being a brave man and much ocpe: fenced in the
manner of carrying on war with the Indians, and besides be-
cause his manners nad made him beloved by every one.
Nothwithstanding the recapture of the castle of Cuzco by
the Spaniards, the Inca brought a large army against the
city, which he ^esieged for more than eight months, making
frequent assaults on various parts of the works, chiefly during
moon-light nights when the moon was fuli. Ferdinand Pi-
zarro and his brothers, assisted by Gabriel de Roias, Her*
nand Ponce de Leon, Don Alfonso Enriquez, the treasurer
Requelme, and other brave ofiicers, made a resolute defence,
and were almost perpetually under arms day and night, as
the number of the garrison was exceedingly inadequate to the
extent of th^ place and the multitude of assailants. As the
Spaniards in Cuzco were aware that the insurrection was ge-
neral overall Peru, they hardly doubted but the governor and
«11 their other countrymen were cut off, so that they defend-
ed themselves as men who had no earthly hope of succour,
dFt>endlng only on the mercy of God and their own courage.
Their small number was daily diminished, as hardly a day
passed in which the Indians did not kill or wound some of
their peopL\ One time during the siege, Gonzalo Pizarro
made a sally with twenty horsemen, and proceeded to the
lake or marsh of Chinchero which is five leagues from Cuzco,
whe^e he was surrounded by so vast a force of Indians that
he pust inevitably have been made prisoner, had not Ferdi-
nand I^iei^rro and Alfonso de Torocome up to his rescue with
a body bi'^httKe. Gonzalo was much blamed on this occasion
for having Mi^anced so far among the enemy with so few
men.
We have already mentioned that Almagro had resolved to
return into Peru and to make himself master of Cuzco, from
the time tliat Juan de Herrada had brought him the commis-
sion by which h( was appointed to a government beyond that
assigned to Don Francisco Pizarro. The principal ofiicers
who were along witli Mm, strongly urged him to this measure,
particularly Gomez Alvarado and Diego Alvarado, brother
6 and
CUAF. VI. 8£CT. !ii. bif Franctsco Pizarro.
m
)lved to
o, from
onimis-
nd that
officers
and uncle of Don Pedro Alvarado the governor of Guati-
maia, and Rodrigo Orgognez j some of whom were eager to
procure settlements in Feru, and others were desirous of gain-
ing establishments in Chili. To succeed in their deNigUi at
reports of the insurrection in Peru had reached Chili, they in-
structed some Indian interpreters to inform Almaoip that the
governor Fiancisco Pizarro and most of the Spaniards in
Feruhad been slain by the Peruvians. Urgred by all these,
cons^rations, Almagro marched back into Peru, and even
arrived within six leagues of Cuzcq without giving notice to
Ferdinand Pi/arro of his motions or intentions '. Aknagro
made overtures to the Inca Manco Capac for an accommoda-
tion, offLring to forgive him all the injury he had already done
to the Spaniards, in consideration of joinine his party and
assisting him to become master of Cr'^^o, of which he pre-
tended that he had been appointed governor by the king of
Spain. The Inca proposed an interview between them ander
pretence of settling the terms of an agreement, to which Al-
magro consented without susp ^cting any treachery, and went
accordingly with a part only of his troops to the place ap-
pointed for the conference, leaving the rest of his force under
the command of Juan de Saavedi'a. Taking advantage of
this confidence, the Inca attacked Almagro by surprize with
extreme fury, and even killed and wounded several of his
men.
In the mean time, Ferdinand Pizarro received notice of
I'ne arrival of Almagro, and that Juan de Saavedra was left at
the vilWe of Hurcos in command of the troops in the ab-
sence of Almagro. He went therefore from Cuzco at the
head of an hundred and seventy of hihbcst troops, in hope of
b#i^ able to prevail on Saavedra and the rest to abandon the
party fif Almagro, or to fall upon them by surprize and make
thfin prisoners. But Saavedra gut timely notice of his ap-
• proach, and drew up his forces, amounting to three hundred
Spaniards, in an advantageous situation for his reception.
"When the two parties were just about to engage, Ferdinand
Pizarro sent a message to Saavedra proposing a private inter-
viiew, that they might endeavour to agree upon an accommo-
dation, to which the other consented. As this conference
was entirely between themselves, it is difficult to know with
any certainty what passed ; but it was reported that Ferdi-
nand
*f The return of Almagro to Cuzco was in the year 1 537. — E.
42i
Conquest of Peru part ii. book it.
'^
nand endeavoured to persuade Saavedra to join him with the
^roops under his command, for which he ofivred rt large re-
compense in gold ; but that Saavedra, like a man of honour,
peremptorily refused to betray his general.
On the return of Almagro from his affair with the Incai
he rejoined the troops under Saavedra, and marched for Cuz-
fo with his whole force. While on the march, he made
prisoners of four horsemen who had been sent out by Ferdin-
and Pizarro to reconnoitre, from whom he leanit all tl|t par-
ticulars of the insurrection of the Peruvians, who had killed
more than six hundred Spaniards, and hail burnt down a
^reat pait of the city of Cuzco, on which news Almagro was
very sensibly afflicted. He sent however, his putentb as go-
vernor to the senators of the royal council or Cabildo of Cuz-
co, whom he urged to receive him as their governor j since,
■ as he insisted, the bounds of the government assigned to Fran<-
..isco Pizarro certainly did not include their city, and even
feh considerably short of it to the north. In answer to this
Remand, the council made answer, that whenever the extent
ofthegovemment belonging to Pizarro was accurately measur-
ed and deteripajned, they would be ready to accede to his de-
sires, provided their city was found to be beyond his limits.
This subject was endeavoured to be settled at that time, and
has been since tried to be ascertained by several experienced
persons; but the manner in which this anair ought to be re-
gulated has never been agreed upon between the two interest-
ed parties* The adherents of Alniagro have always insisted,
that the extent assigned by his majesty as the government of
Pizarro, ought tp be measured either along the sea coast or
• by the grand rpad ofthelncas, taking into the account all
the turnings and windings in either of these routes ; by which
means, in either of these ways not only the city of Cuzco, but
even Lima according to the opinions of several persons,
would be left out of the province of Pizarro. He on the other
hand, insisted that the extent of country granted to him,
pught to be measured in a straight line directly from north to
south, without ajiy angles or turnings, or by means of set-
tling the degrees of latitude at the two extremities, allowing
so many Ic ugues ^o each degree,
Ferdinand Pizarro pffered to admit Almagro and his troops
into Cu7co, and to assign them a particular Quarter of the
pity for their residence, ifhe would agree to defer the dispute
^bout the boundaries, till intelligence were sent to the gover-
rvR 11 nor
cHiP* VI. SECT. III. bjf Francisco Pi%arro,
425
nor Don Francisco Pizarro, then at Lima, that he might
have it in his power to endeavour to fell upon some means
of settling the difference between them in an amicable man-
ner. It has been said by some, that a truce was agreed up-
on between them on these principles j and that on the faith
of this truce, Ferdinand Pizarro allowed all the soldiers and
inhabitantii to retire to thr * quarters for rest ond refresh-
ment, after their long fatigues, having spent several days and
nights continually under arms, without time to sleep or even
to take proper food. It is farther said, that Almagro, being
informed of this circumstance, made a night attack on Cuz-
co, in which he was aided bv a thick mist, so that he got pes*
session of the defences without being observed. Ferdinand
and Gonzalo Pizarro, awakened by the noise, flew tn arms
and defended their house, which was the first attacked, with
the assistance of their servants ; but as the enemy set it on
fire in several places, they were forced to surreniier. Next
day, Almagro obliged the Cabildo to receive him as governor,
and committed Ferdinand and Gonzalo Pizarro to prison.
Several of his confider' ?ven urged him to secure his con-
quest by putting the x .^arros to death ; but he was chiefly
dissuadc(i from this by the influence of Diego de Alvarado,
who became responsible for ihem.
It has been said that Almagro violated the truce which he
had agreed to with Ferdinand Pizarro, in consequence of the
false representations of several Indians and Spaniards, who
told him that Ferdinand had ordered all the bridges to be
broken down, and was employed in fortifying Cuzco against
him. In proof of this, it is alleged that when Almagro was
advancing to attack the city, and saw the bridges remained
uninjurcu, he said aloud that he hud been imposed on. The
governor Don Francisco Pizarro did not receive any account
of these events at Cuzco for a good many days afterwards.
As the Inca Manco Capac had fled with a large body of
Peruvian warriors to the high mountains of the Andes, Al-
magro invested his brother the Inca Paul ^ with the royal
fringed f He^, appointing him nominal king of Peru.
Among those things which Don Francisco Pizarro had
solicited from his majesty in reward for his services in the
discovery and conquest of Peru, he particularly requested the
in perpetuity to him and his descendants of twenty
thousand
I
{■
grant
?!^7 Garcilasso name* this prince PauIIu Inca.— E,
li
V90
Conquest qfPeru part it. book ii.
/>
diouaand Indiant in a prorince named AtabtVos *, wHh idl
the revenues, imposts, rights, and jurisdictions appertaining
to them, together with the title of Marquis of thut province.
The king gave him the thle of Marquis according to hisi de-
sire; but in r^a[ard to the grant of Intiians which he solicitF-
«d, answered, that he must in the firft place be better in-
formed of the nature and circumstances of the country and
its native institutions, before he could determine on that
measure, but that Pizarro might rest assured of having
every reasonable concfssion in his favour.
On receiving information of the insurrection of the Peru-
vians around Cuzco under Manco Capac, Francisco Pizarro,
now Marquis, sent several detachments of troops to the assist-
ance of his brother F&rdinand at Cuzco, sometimes ten or
fifteen only together, according as circumstances or conve-
nience occurred, not believing the state of affairs to be so
hazardous as it was in reality '. The Peruvians having ac-
curate information of the march of these detacitments, occu-
pied the difficult passes of the mountains with parties of war-
liors, and succeeded on several occasions to defeat these
small bodies, ^most of whom were slain. One considerable
reinforcement of seventy horsemen, was sent by the Marquis
from Truxillo and San Miguel under the command of Diego
Pizarro, who was waylaid by the Peruvians at a difficult pasa
called the mountain of Parios, about fifly leagues from Cuz-
co, where he and his men were all slain. One Gonzalo dc
Tapia, who was brother-in-law to the jMarquis, who went
with a body of eighty horsemen, was liftewise defeated and
slain ; and two other captains, name<l Morgovcio and GaetC}
while endeavouring to pass the mountains to the relief of Cuz-
co, were trentotl in the same manner. Of all these different
detachments, scarcely one man escaped, so that those who fol-
lowed knew nothing of what happened to those who went be-
fore them. The enemy always attacked the Spaniards while
engaged in marching through some deep and narrow valley
among the mountains, occupying both ends of the valley by
strong bodies of warriors, nnd rolling down gi'eat stones and
masses of rock from the steep and high mountains on both
&id^
8 Named AtaviUos by Garcilat$o de la Vega. — ^E.
9 The arrangement of Zarate is extremely faulty and confused, as he
here recounts circumstances which preceeded the return of Almagro to
Cuzco. We are here giving a translation of a original document ; not
. endeavfiuring to write a history of tke Conquest of Peru, and have not
tlierefore authority to alter the arrangement ot our author.— E.
CBiV. ti. nCT.lIb
J^BHuaeo Pimur0.
4flV
as he
gro to
It; not
iVe not
«idef oiike mUw, destroyed ovr mm and hones in a miier-
ijble manner, onen without fighting. In this way thejr at
different times destroyed more than three hundred soMuers,
and made themsdves masters of their arms, Isesides aoquirine
considerable and valuable plund«- in gold and jewds and silk
dresses. Not knowing the fate of the former detachments,
Francisco de Oodoy was sent with a rdnforcement of eishty
men ; but falling in with two of those who had belonged to
the detachment under Gaete, who had escaped, he learnt
from them whni had happened, on which he immediately en-
deavoured to retreat firom the mountain passes, in which he
had considerable difficulty, as the Indians had already occu-
pied the defiles in his rear. He made good his retreat how-
ever, fcrflowed and harassed by the Indians for more than
twenty lergues, sometimes attacking him in the rear and at
other times in the van, and at length got safe to Lima with
much difficulty. About the same time the captain Diego de
Aguero arrived at that place with some other Spaniards, who
bad saved themselves from the Indians, who had endeavoured
to massacre them at their country residences.
The marquis sent Pedro de Lerma at the head of eighty
cavalry to drive away a numerous army of Peruvian warriors
who had invaded the lower country m pursuit of Aguero.
JLerma fought against these troops of ^he Inca a whole day,
and at last forced them to take refuge in a strong place
among steep rocks, where the Spaniards surrounded them.
In this battle, Lerma lost several of his teeth, and several of
his men were wounded, but none killed. The Indians were
so exceedingly crowded together among the rocks to which
they had retired, that they were unable to use their armis, in-
somuch that the Spaniards might probably have put an end
to the war on this occasion, if the marquis had not sent them
an order to retire. On seeing the retreat of their enemies,
the Indians returned thanks to their gods for their escape
from so gi'eat danger, and took post on a high mountain
near the city of Lima on the other side of the river, whence
they harassed the Spaniards by frequent skirmishes and at-
tacKS. The commander of these Indians wa? named Tyzo-
fopangui, who had along with him one of tlie brothers of tlic
nca, whom the marquis had sent along with Gaete '°.
While
'■ 10 Garcilasto names the Peruvian general Titu Yupanqui. The remain-
lier of the lentence, repecting the brother of the Inca and Gaete, is ^uite
unintelligible.
428
Conquest ^ Peru
PART II BOOK Ik
U
Whfle the Pcruviam remained in the neighbourhood of
Lima» skirmiBhing every day with the Spaniards, it often
Imppened that the natives who were in the service of the
Spaniards, who were called Yanacones, went during the day
to their friends in the mountains, who gave them provisions,
and returned at night to their masters.
As he was in a manner besieged by 60 large a force of the
enemy in Lima, the marquis concluded that liis bi-otliers and
all the other Spaniaixls in Cuzco had certainly been slain,
and that the insurrection was so general that the inhabitants
of Chili Itad likewise destroyed Almagro and his army. In
this emergency, both that bis Spaniards might not expect to
save themselves by sea, and to convince the Peruvians that
he had no intention to leave the country, be sent off all his
ships to Panama. At the same time he sent notice to the
Viceroy of New Spain anil all the other governors in Ameri-
ca and the Wesit Indies of the perilous state of affairs in Peru,
iutreating them to send him assistance. In these letters,
he is said not to have shewn his usual firmness, and it is re-
ported that this was occasioned by the earnest solicitations of
many of ihoeUe tiround him* He sent orders at the same time
to the commandant of Truxillo to abandon that place, and to
come to his asbistance with all the armed men and horses he
could collect, sending off the women and children and all
their valuable effects to the province of Tierra firma. But
before the execution of these orders, the captain Alfonso de
Alvarado arrived at Truxillo with tlic troops he had taken
along with him for the comiuest of the province of the
Chachapoyas, whence be had been recalled by orders from
the morquis. Leaving a part of his troops for the defence of
Truxillo, Alvarado marched with the rest to Lima, where
tlie marquis appointed him licutenant-generaJi of his army, in
place of Don Pedro de Lei*ma, who hud hitherto enjoyed
that office. Hiis gave great offence to Lerma, and was the
occasion of his revolt, as shall be mentioned in the sequel.
As the marquis was now reinforced by a considerable num-
ber of troops, he thought himself in condition to send assist-
ance to those parts which were in greatest danger, and de-
tached therefore Alfonso Alvarado with three bi\ndred horse
and
aninteMigible. I suspect it has been misunderstood by the French transla-
tor and ought to stand thus: " The comnnarider of these Peruvians was
Titu Yupanqui, a brother of the Inca, and the same peroou who had drivefi
Oaete and others to take refuge in Lima." — £.
■•■C V.|r»-.--^
ciup. VI. SECT. ui. 6y Francisco Pixarro.
429
nuin-
assist-
de-
horse
and
and foot, who pilliiaed Mvcrol diitricU uitli very litde reiist-
ance from the Indians. But about four leagues from the
city of Pachacamac, he was violently attacked by the IndiaoR,
wlM>in he defeated with considerable slaughter ) after which
he continued hit inarch towards Cuzcp. On this march the
uriny of Alvarado suffered great hardships in passing across «
large extent of desert country, five hundred Indians who at-
tended AS servants perishing of tliirst ; and it is said that all
the Spanish infantry must have died of thirst and fatigue, if
they had not been relieved by the activity of the cavalry iu
bringing them water from a liistatice. After reaching the
province of Jauja, Alvarado was joined by Gomez de Tor-
fioya with two hundred horse and foot, who had been sent
after him. His force being augmented to five hundred men
by this reinforcement, Alvarado proceeded to the bridge of
LumichaccL, where he was surrounded by a numerous army
of hostile Indians. Having defeated these in battle, he con-
tinued his march to the bridge of Abantay ", continuallj
harassed by the Indians. At that place he learned that
Ferdinand and Gonzalo PIzarro had been imprisoned bv
A^magro, who had taken possivsion of Cuzco ; on which
he resolved to halt where he then was till he might receive
precise orders from the marquis for his fiirther proceedings.
Wlien Almagro was informed of the arrival of Alfonso
Alvarado at Abancay, he sent Diego Alvarado to wait upoii
him, attended by seven or eight horsemen, with orders to
notify his commission as governor in these parts. Alfonso,
after examining the commission, declared that he did not
consider himself competent to decide u})on an affair of such
high importance, and that the documents ought to be com-
municated to the marquis. Almagro had come part of the
way from Cuzco towards the camp of Alvarado, where he
waited the return of his messenger i and not seeing him at
the time he expected, he became afraid that Alvarado had
detained him and might advance to Cuzco by another road.
He returned therefore to Cuzco in all h&ste to provide for his
defence. Learning the discontent of Lerma, on account of
having been superseded in the command of the army by the
marquis, and that he was disposed to come over to his side
with eighty men, Almagro marched out from Cuzco with his
troops
a 1 Abanray is a tbvnt on one of the branches of the Apurimac about 60
(oilet west from Cuzco.->£,
\
:«
V '
m9
Conquest qfTeru vakt ii. book it.
Vt
\\
trooMa fertnfffht sftcnrardt, and advanced towards the army
of Alfonso Airarado. While on the march, dhe advanced
ffuard belonging to Almagro, by niMns of an ambmh, made
Pedro Alvares nolguin prisoner, who had been sent out on
dfscovery by Alvarado. On learning this circumstance, Al-
rarado meant to have arrested Pedro de Lcrma, as he enter-
tained suspicions that he was in correspondence with Alma-
gro { bfit Lerma had previously escaped to the enemy, car-
rying along with him the signatures of all those who had
join«) him in the plot for desertinff to Almagro.
Aiier the junction of Lerma, Amiagro approached during
the night to the bridge of Abancay with one part of his army,
where tie knew that Oomez de Tordo^'a and a son of Colonel
Vilalva waited for him } and he detached at the same time a
Targe body of his troops to a ford of the river, where those
who hod conspired in his favour along with Lerma had the
guard. By these men the troops of Abnacro were received
as friends, so that they passed the river without opposition.
Some of these conspirators contrived during the night to throw
above fifty lances belonging to the cavalry of Alvarado into
the river. OVring to all these circumstances, when Alvarado
proposed next morning to have attacked the enemy, he found
himself abandoned by the conspirators ; and a considerable
number of his own troops, not being able to find their arms,
did not come up in time for the attack. By these means Al-
magro cot an easy and bloodless victory, not a single Spaniord
being killed on either side, Rodrigo Orgognez only losing se-
veral of his teeth by a stone thrown from a sling '*. After
the capture of Alfonso Alvarado, the Almagrians pillaged his
camp, and carried all the adherents of Pizarro as pnsoners
to Cuzco, where they were harshly treated. In consequence
of this victory the partizans of Almaffro were so much elated,
tliat they used to say the Pizarros might now retire from Pe-
ru to govern the Mangroves under the equator.
In consequence of the victories which Alvarado had gained
over the Indians at Pachacamoc and Lumicliaca, as already
mentioned, the Inca and Titu Yupanqui were obliged to re-
tire from before Lima, which they had in a manner blockad-
ed. By this circumstance the marquis found himself at liber-
ty
1* We learn from the History of America, II. /331, that this bloodless
Victory over Alvarado took place on the 12th July 15S7. Garcilasso calls
jt the battle of the river Amancay, and names Alvarado Alonso. — £.
ciVA9k vr. Mcv. HI. 5y Vnuuiaeo Pimrro.
4SI
ty to act in tupport of hit kiterett at Cimco } and having re-
ceived oonsidcrable reinforcements from various parts, he be-
flan his march for Cuxco at the head of more than sevai
hundred men, horse and foot. In this expedition, his only
parpose was to sueooiir his brothers acainst the Peruvians, as
ne had not hitherto received information of the reti|m of Al-
magro from Cliili, or any of those other events which hod
taken phu», as before relatod. Most of the troops by which
^e Marquis was lately joined, were sent by Don Alonso de
Fuenniayor, archbishop and president of Hispaniola, nnder
the command of his brother Don Diego de l^uenmayor. Be-
sides these, Gaspar de Espinosa had brought some t: oops
from Panama, and Diego ae Avala had brought others from
Nicaragua. With this army the marquis set out from Limt
for Cuzco, taking the Way of the plain, ana arrivei in the
province of Nasca, about twenty- Ave leagues from Lima ".
At this place he received intelligence of the return of Aim >
gro, the death of one of his brotliers toid impnsonmfntt oi the
other two, the defection of Lerma, and the capture of > t . rado.
He was sensibly affected by this afliicting news ; and consider-
ing that his troops were only prepared ror contending against
Indians, he thought proper to return irnmediutely to Lima to
take proper measures under the present emergency of his aifairs.
Soon after his return to Lima, the marquis sent the licen*
tiate Espinosa to endeavour to bring about an accommodatioB
with Aknagro. Espinosa was directed to re|)rcsent to Alma-
gro, that if his majesty were informed of the disputes between
tnem, and the evil consequences of these upon the condition
of the colony, he would assuredly recal both, and send some
other person to assume the government of Peru, who would
reap the rich fruit of their joint labours. If Almagro refused
to listen to these remonstrances, and U. >.< I;er into a friendly
accommodation, Espinosa was instrucu to request that he
would set the brothers of Pizarro at liberty, and would re*
main at Cuzco without attempting any farther hostilities, un*
till they had laid a statement of tl ar differences before his
majesty, and had received his dnoi. orders respecting the boun-
daries between their governments. Espinosa was unable to
persuade Almagro to agree to any accommodation, and soon
afterwords died. Leaving Gabriel de Koias as his lieutenant
ia
13 Naacz it about 240 miles S. S. £. fi-om Lima, or about lixty Spanitk
Itaguei. — £.
I. -■
I
\t
ri
49a>
Conquest of' Peru
PAUT II. BOOK 11.
•I
M
i.
I >
b
, I
in Cuzco, with "the charge of Ocmzalo Pizarro and Alonso^
de Alvarado, Alniagro descended into the plain with a conU'^
durable force, carrying Ferdinand Pizarro along with him^jt
He penetrated into the province of Chancay, which is only^l
twenty leagues from Lima, where he even established a colony'
or garrison, in a place which was without any manner ot.
doubt within tlie province of tlie marquis. f
On the return of the marquis to Lima, he made additional
levies of troo))S| giving out openly that he was reduced to
take up arms against Almagro, who had invaded his govern-
ment. In a few days he assembled an armv of seven hun#
dred men, among whom was a considerable body of musquet^^
eers, which had been brought from Flanders with the neces^>
sary arms and ammunition by Pedro de Vergera, along with
the troops of Diego de FuenmayOr. Hitherto there had not
been a sufficient number of musquets in Peru to form entire
companies of that species of troops } but on the present Occa^
sion the marquis was enabled to arm two companies with that
powerful wei^on, one of which was commanded by the before
named Pedro de Vergera, who had been formerly sent to
tliscover the province of Bracamoras. Nugno de Castro was
appointed captain of the other company of musqueteers. Die-
go dc Urbina, nephew of the maestre de campo Juan de Ur«t
bina, was made captain of the pikemen. Diego de Roias,
Peranzures, and Altbnso de Mercadillo, were appointed cap-
tains of horse: Pedro de Valdivia maestre dc campo, and An-
tonio de Vilalva sergeant-major, who was son of Colonel Vvf
lalva. ■ --'i
About this time, Alonso dc Alvarado and Gonzalo Plzarror
who remained prisoners in Cuzco '♦, made their escape from
prison, and joined the marquis with above seventy men whom
they had persuaded to accompany them, bringing likewise
along with them as a prisoner Gabriel de Roias the ueutenant
of Almagro. The arrival of these officers gave much satisfac-
tion to the marquis, both on account of their escape from
danger, and because the reuiforccment they brought along:
with them gave great encouragement to his troops. He ap-
pmnted hb brother Gonzalo lieutenant-general of his army,
and Alonso Alvarado maestre de cnmpo, or major-general of
the cavalry. When Aimugro learnt that his prisoners had
escaped,
t4 Zarate forgets that only a few lines before, he had mentioned that
AImag.ro carried these oiTicers along with his army; — E. :*.
^-m'-if^j^ •«*»"■ * *
9U»» VL ncR III. ly BmneitiM AbirM.
4S9
kewisc
itenantr
tisfac—
from-
alongr
e ap-;
armytv
eral of
had
caped.
«Kapcd, and tbe mmieRMi town which die iMiiqpiii hadMd^
<tiirMU he beauBe deHRHi* «f m MoeaimodBtioB, Sot vnkk
pntpow he sent AJUbnae EnriqneZt J^^ Vtiffum dei/ierem'
^K^Bithe &ctor, amd Juaa de Guzman trnsurer, I0 the ittai*i>
out to deaiiv an LttaNum, atiiddch they mi^ Agukle every
tntng that waa in diipate between them, i^fter ae^^eral me»-
iagea and prapoMls, the marquis proposed to refer ihewlkte
matter to the vmidTage of Fnuidsoo de BoiwUllMy preivineial
of dM order of Mercy, to whkb Ahnagro ooBsentra* ^' ^'^^■
In iwtue Of the powem^ven to hhn by both paities^ tks^
Tadilla ordained that F«rduiaad Pizavro riioii^ oe set at li-
berty ; that Cuacco should be restored to the mwquis f that
both armies should be dnbandedy and the diffinreat oom|MmieA
aent in various ctirections to ^sootrer and ooMpier the toaia*
tnr I and that finally the whole dispute about Ae bonndnries
of the two governments should! be referred to the <fedsit7\of
his majesty. BoradiUB likewise persuaded Akia^ and H-
zarro to liave an interview in the village of 3fdla *', ndd^wi^ .
between the two armies, at which th^ might disCuss thi'terina
of an entire reconcilement, each to be ottiAided by WA^
horsemen. Th^ accordind^ set out fitt> that place from their
respective camp»} but as Uonaalo Pifearro did not give im^
plicit confidence to the promise of Almagro, he fdl<nired Ids
brother with the whde aimy, which he secrady posted in the
ne^bbourhood of Mala, |^ing Castro with »rty mU^eteiM
in ambush among some reeds neitf the road by which Alnuv
gro had to pasa, and cUrectinff him, in case Almagro was ao*
compaiiiad by a larger force dukn was agreed ok, to g^ve no-
tice by a disdmrae of musketry, that Uonai^ ^|^t hasten
to the delence of the marquis.
Before leaving Chincha on his wiqr to the Urteir^ew with
PiasrvD, Ahnagro left orders with his lieutemmtrgraeral, Ro>
dngo Ohroognei, to keep vi^kuit guard againt the madiiha-
tions of the enemy, in case me marquis should brin^ a greater
escort than was aoreed upon, that he mig^t send hun prompt
asnstanoei and if any treastm were practised against him,
that Ferdhiand Pisarro should be considered as an hoMi^
for his safely On thdr meeting, the marqdb and Ahnagro
embraced each c^er with much apparent cordiality ; but ai*
tor a short cysooiuse* in which no part of their diflerence was
▼01. IV. E e alluded
14 ]iab,or8aDF0dradtBfsla,bat«MiM4Ma«p«rt<u<i>*vw«ftMl
•MM osaw* tboat M BiilM MvUi firoaUas.
^9*
t^on^si q/'^tU ' .1 . PABT iU. ;BOOK II.
i4bi^M 'tfti'-fwoic^.the hovsenmilwlra accomm^ the map*
qviM»>«M4)i«poredt tt>r Alfm^DQ tliat be was in danger, and ad-
3i!i§9djhiiil\tQ jsedtHf ^jthout delayi ;a» Gonzalo' Pizarro faai^
j^jl^^l^ bn fapt>u4h to: inUtrcept him. Ahnagra immediate^
94Aled fiot, jbig.hone t and several of the-attendants; on Pitmrrpv
«eeiag Ahnagfo. about to i^tircy radeavoured to perBuade the
l|uiin|uift!toabav!6ihiln anrested*. which eould eaatly hare been
4oite.% !n()W0tl»;:«^«tbe niiisque^ under De Castro. To
this the ip^49qW9:<W)C«ild.bv no meanai consent, being xesohred
tO'lce^ ;bi8,pivi>mise i^vifiicate, and woujk' not believe that Al-
]Q(^p*o meant to, gO:away without conung to some cendiiiioR
^11 : the l«ii^^ ^ ^eir meeting. Alraagro however went
away f ai\4 «# .^c( <Hiw the anibo^ on hi» way back, he was
Qpnvinqsd tht|t;lmf(cM!ywaA intended against him, andmade
jloudcomillaintlsTof tbe conduct' of the marquis after his retom
to Chincha. . Yet^ iby the intercession of Di^o de Alvarado,
MmtifpPitei T^fff^Pfm^ Pizarro at liberty, oo condition that
^ aii^uis shonld provide him with a ship and a free port,
^y w^iich he niigbt send dispatches to Spain and receive an-
^Wfif^i and that they sbpuld <e«^nue in peace untit they re-
f|B|ffed|h# ^yal determinajtion oi the sovereign respecting the
bosindtfigs ,of their governments. Rodrigo Orgognez waii
fe^cjcdiiogly, averse from this measure of liberating ferdinand
]^ifano,j whp h»^ been harshly treated while a prisoner, and
j^hpihe believed ^puld be eager for revenge if set free, and
sUonglyt urged Ahnagro to put him to death. But Almagro
.would not listen to bis advice, and sent Ferdinand Piaarro
to the marquipi accompanied by his own son the younger Al-
ifuigro apd seveTftl gentWme^i. Ferdinai^ Pizarro was hardly
set off en his return, when Almagro began to repent that ha
h^d sot hiiiL At liberty i and it is beUeved he would have been
ri^flpanded to prison if he had not made haste on his journey,
during iwhich he was met by several of his brothers principial
ijfticett., - :-ji <.ui,w., ^i-i^.y...: : ■. ,■ : ■■ . ,■_,■ ■ : ■■' -^ >.'■,>
;^ r^lpon after the liberation of his brother Ferdlnatod, the
laorauis recciivied provisional wders from his majesty,. by the
h§uadi;pfiPedro.AB9ures},by which the two governoors werie
(Commanded to retain the countries which each .of them had
diseoverfcd and conquered, and in which they had fermed
establishments at the time when this proyi«i(mal order should
be BOtjified to them ; neither of them making any attempt to
disturb the other until his majesty should give definitive orders
Ml the suljgect. jiaving now his brother at liberty|. the mar-
;«&W| .d~>i~l
tHiF.yi. rtBCt'. HI. tnf Francisco Phutiro.
4d#
^is sent a notification to Almogro of this imperifti order, re^
ouiring him to retire according to his majestys orders from
tne country which he, Pizarro, had discovered, and in which
he had established colonies. Almagro answered, that he was
ready to obey the orders of his majesty, in ke^iiu; possession
of the country and establishments he occupied when the im-
perial order whs notified, for wiiich reason he rediiired the
mai^quis to leave him in the peaceable en;oyment of what he
now possessed, declaring that on his part he would carefully
and entirely perform whatever shotrfd bo finally commanded
by his majesty. The marquis replied, that the city of Cuzcq
and the aajoiniug territory had been first discovered, colonized,
and occupied by him, ot which he hud been violently dispos-
siessed by Almagro, that in conformity with the orders of his
majesty, therefore, it behoved Almagro to evacuate that city
and territory, or he would drive him from it by force, as aft
the compacts and conventions which had been entered into
between th«^m were abrogated by this new regulation of his
majesty.
As Abnagro refu«cd to accede to these demands, the mar-
quis marched against him with his whole force, on which
Almagro retired towards Cuzco, and fortified himself on a
high mountain named Giiavtara, breaking up all the roads to
render the approach to his camp aH difficult as possible. Fer-
dinand Pizarro found means to ascend the nnountain during
the night by a secret path, and forced the passages with his
musqueteers, so that Almaf/ro wa^^ forced to abandon this po-
sition, seeking his safbty in flight. Being sick at the time,
he went with the advano'd guard, leaving Orgognez to bring
up and protect the rear. One night, Orgogiiez learnt by
two of Pizarros horsemen who were taken prisoners, that the
enemy were close up with his rear, on which he hastened the
retreat as much as possible, although several of his officers
were anxious for him to turn back upon the pursuers, know-
ing by experience that those who usually inhabited the plain
were liable, on their first coming into the mountainous region^
to sickness and vomiting, very much resembling sea>sickness.
Oi^ognez refused to listen to this advice, because contrary to
the orders of Almagro ; yet it was believed he might have
been successful^ as the troops belonging to the marquis were
in reality affected by that ordinary malady, and were besides
so much distressed by the snow that Pizarro retired back
with his army into the maritime plain of Peru. Almagro
continued
. -it^'hi^ -.-v-fc^
m
Conqvfti of Peru jiAWS ii. book ii.
coatinii^iidlutauurchto Cuzco, where he employed hiinsetf
for tw^ mondis in raising recruits, procuring anununitioQ,
prepariiig arms of silver uid copper, founding cannon, and
vuSfoag every preparation to defend hiroielf against Piaarro.
. Aftc; Jie return of the marquis into the plain, varioua
consttltatfcnc were held as to the best plan of procedure, and
it ^8S axhx determined that Ferdinand Pizarro, now lieur'
teoan'^ •general under the marquis, with hi* brother Oonzalo
Pizarro a^ i)[Mijpr-general, should inarch with the army against
Cuzco '*. On thu occasion, a manifesto was circulated as
the reason of this ipeasure, that several of the inhabitants of
; puzco had made coii(4>laintt> to the nuir<)uis against the tyran-<
ny cf AlmMpro, who had violenUy seized their goods and
houses, anu dispossessed them of their Indians and cvenr
thing that belonged to them. The marquis returned to Li-
fia, and his brotner Ferdinand ntarched at the head of the
army towards Cuzco. Having oirived on the mountainous
ridge near Cuzco in the evening, all hiti officers urfl;ed Ferdi-
nand Pizarro to descend iniiheaiately into the plain that the
ai^y might encamp Uiere for the night ; but Ferdinand po-
sitively r^ie^tfd this advice, and ord^ed the army to encamp
qa the mpunttun. Early next morning, the whole army of
Alroagrp was seen drawn up in order of battle on the plain,
under the si^eme command of Orgognezi Francisco de Cha>
yes, Juan Telloa and Vasco de Guevara, having the command
of the cavahy under his orders. On the side of the moun-
tain there was A gr^at body of Indians in charge of a small
numb^ of ^aniards* intended to be employetl as circum^
iBtances might adinit in the expected battle. In the mean-
time, aU the firiends and partizans of the marquis who were in
CMzeo.were committed prisoners to the citadel^ which was so
exlp'eniely crowded on this occasion, and the. places iq^pro-
priated tor their confineinent so small, that several of Utenf
were stifled, ,,
On the following day, after the sdemnization of the mas«,
Ferdinand Pizarro marched his army into the plain of Cuzco
\n order of battle, and advanced towards the city, intending
to gftin possession of some high ground which overlooked the
citadel.
16 According toRobertaon, II 334, after an uiuuccet*£itl attempt to cross
the mountaiiu by the direct road from Lima to Cuzco, Ferdinand inarched
wuthwards in the maritime plain to Nascai whence he penetrated by the
defilet of die mountwna in that quartcriF— £.
:<4 .:
CRAP, ru SECT. III.
I lirmuiseo IRitmtro,
487
dtadd. Ferdinand and hig troops jBaltered themadTei, from
their great superiority in numbers, that Ahnaoro would not
risk a battle, and were even anxious to spare the efiusion of
Christian blood on the present occasion, in which the natives
of the same country and sulgeets of the same sovereign were
preparing to destroy each other, instead of uniting in a com-
mon cause for the ^neral good of dl. Orj^jogneK was actuat*
«d by a different principle, and haa occupied the only pat-
sage by which the troops of I^zarro could ai^roach towards
Cncco, in whidi he had drawn up his tnxMM and artillery
with much judgment, under cover of a marsh, across which
it was necessary for the troops of Pizarro to pass before they
could attack his position. Immediately on reconnoitring the
order of the enemy, Ferdinand Pizarro ordered obtain Mer-
cadillo to advance with his cavalry to a prqper place for keefH
ing the Indians in check in case they should attempt to at-
tack his army while encaged in bawe with Oigognez, and
whence likewise he mi^t be able to give succour where ne-
cessary during the approaching engag«nent. Before the
Spaniards began to enga^, t£e Indians on both sides skir-
mished with each other. The cavalry of Pizarro endeavour-
ed to pass the morass, and being opposed by a squadron of
Almagro's horse, the musketeers belonging la risarro ad-
vanced in front of their own horse and soon compelled the
adverse cavalry to give ground. On serinsr this successful
commencement of the battle, Pedro de Vamivia, a maestre
de.campo of the marquis, assured his friends that the victory
was their own. While the troqps of Kzarro were passing the
marsh, the Aknagrians plied their artillery, and by one dis-
charge five men belonging to Pizarro were brou^t down.
But Pizarro pressed on under cover of a dose fire from his
musketeers, and passed both Uie marsh and a rivulet beyond,
and drew up in good order on the firm ground, every .<me of
the captains having been previously instructed how to pro-
ceed with their divisions before the engagement commenced.
As Pizarro noticed that the pikemen in the army of C^gog-
nez <MUTied their pikes high, he gave orders to his musketeers
to fire a little high, by which means in two vollies they broke
above fifty of the enemies pikes '^ At this time Orge^ez
. ' or^red
■ifj
¥ffr''
^ 19 OsrcUsaio infohns ui that tlie muiketcen of Pizairo uwd i kind of
chain shot on this occasion ; their kaden bulkta being cast in two hemispheres
connected together by several links of a small iron chain. — £.
5,%t4?;-.. i'
pi
4.'.^
Gim^stofPeru mut ij. book ii.
V^
M \
ordered his &::ny to wdviince to the cbnrgCt aud obserring:!
that Mveni) of his divisioiM hesitated, being heM in rhec!; by
the fire cf the musqueteersf he movet^ on ivij^iiclf at the acnd
of his nmiu body, directing his attack lothi : oart ct the nvi"
TfoSf wheri> Ferdinand Pixarro '^as seni< at ^i\f he»'1 cl "ix^
8C|uudrons. Orgoffnez appare^^tly de p^dritig of ixia bi tf,k>,^
called out V7hile advanrW^^, <* Polluw ine who will I 1 go ia
the nameof God to du !?>y duty, and tc seek an hooourab?e
death I" WhiJo Orgogr.z was advancinii;, Gpnsalo Pizarro
and Alonso Alvarado observed that his flHi\;< was udcc 'eisi< h'
and ffccorilingly made an hnmc Hate c 'large, by wiiit^h ftbove-'
fifty of the Altnjtgrinns were ovevthrov/n. Ori^ogwc/. was
wounded by a muiJcet-bal) in the h .ad, wbich hi k i throiigh
his b<.«ver} notwithstanding wbich be kilkd two aien with
hh hmce, and wounded one of Pizarros servants in the mouth
wh yiT) he vriiatook for the genera], as he was finely dressed.
Tor bome time the engagement wus extremely severe and
ihe conibatants were mingled together ; but at length the
troops of Pizarro forced the Almagrians to take to flight
after they had a considerable number killed and wounded^ >
Almflffro tiblnff sick, took no pari in the battle, wbich he
ob^fvedfrom a height at some distance, and on seeing his
trooj98 take to flight, exclaimed, ** I thought we had come out
to flght like valiant soldiers, not to run away like cowards,"
He immediately withdreiv to the citadel of Cuzco, to which
plice be was pursued by Gonzalo Pizarro and Alonso Alva-
rado, and made prisoner. Orgognez was taken prisoner by
two of Pizarros horsemen, who were leading him away when
a third came up who bore him a grudge for some injurious
treatment, and cut off his head. Several others who had surw
rendered were slain in this manner by personal enemies, in
f^ite of every endeavour by Ferdinand Pizarro and his officers
to protect them. The soldiers of Alvarado especially, asham.>
ed and irritated by the defeat they had formerly sustained at
the bridge of Abancay, were eager for revenge, and put many
of the Almagrians to death in cold blood. Captain Ruy
Dias had taken up a prisoner behind him on hoihseback, on
purpose to protect him, when one of bis own troopers run
him througn with his lance. ;.) '>r6d&'
When the Indian servants of the two armies saw that the
battle among the Christians was ended, they too gave over
fighting, and fell to plundering the dead, whom they stripped
0f their dolhes and valuables, even pillaging several who ivere
yet
CBA^. n, SECT. in. hf Franeiteo Pharro*
439
jet alive, but unable to dcfebd theijaselves' l^edttiff^ bf iMr
wonndri; and as the conquieiion were entirely takdfi up in
pursuing their victory, the Indians had it in* th^i^'j^wer t<;i
rfo as they pleased, «o thatthev to^rely ^tripi^ eveiy onb
whom tliey found on the fiel^ of brittle. Th6 spaniords, hcd^
victors and vanquiihed, were so Worn oiit and fatigued by
their exertions in tliis battle, that they might have t>een ci^ily
destroyed by the Indians who were present, ii they had dared
to attack them according t^ their onsinal intention ; biit they
were so busied in plnndefing the killed arid' wotinded, that
they neglected the opportunity of avenging themselves on
their oppressors. This decisive battle was tought on the 6th
of April 1538, in a plain called Cachipampa or the fidd of
salt by the Inditini<, about a league to the south of the citadel
of Cuzco, near a salt spring from which the inhabitants make
great quantities of salt; and as these salt ';yorks are in thie
neighboitrhuod of the field, this engagement has been always
known by the name of the battle ot Salinasy or of the salt
works '*.
•^' After this decisive victory, Ferdinand Pizarro used c^'ery
tftieans to conciliate the ofKcors of Almagros army who had
survived the battle, that he might ensage them in tiie party
of the marquis , and being unsuccessful, he banished several
of them from Cuzco. Being unable to satisfy the demands
of all those who had sewed him on the late occasion, as many
of them thought so hiffKly of their own merits that the ^>
vernment of {^ru wodd hardly have been a suflieient reward
in their own estimation, Feixlinand Pizarro ivaoived to sepa-
rate the army, sending it away in various detachmcuts to
discover and conifer tKoae parts of the country which htt«l
not been hitherto «^xpliM>ed tuid re«hiced. By this raeasiH>^,
he at the sante tiM< iv%-«i\kd 1ms friends by giving them op-
portuiNCi«ii to ^fs^inguish and dnrich themselve»^and jB;ot nd
of his e»oinH> bv >ending them to a distance. On this occa-
sion INhJiv iie \.^Midia was sent with three hundred m««^, part
of whoM had betonged to Almagro, to Ci*quer the vvuntry of
Coliao, a nfKHHttainous district wKi<^ was said to be extrem.e-
ly ridi. Not being able to mnkt^ *ii} progress in this country
«n accoiMit of the difficulty of the roads, he had to return ;
V besides
^^
1« h» Zavate the date of this battle is given as the «6th of April, in m jildi
lie k iV^)K)\ved by Robertson ; but Oarcilaiso carefully noticei the mistMe,
iMid assures us that it was fought on the 6th of the inonln.- V;.
HO
Cengiuit qf Peru vart ii. 90ok ji.
boidet which hii troopt beaune nrotinont, chi«fly at die in*
jitifpttion clone MesAf who had baen commifMry of artilloir
uhaer Abnwro* an4 vm oioDuraged by the other aokUen of
Almagro woo aehred on UiU exjMifio"* ^n this, Candia
arreted Meia and ■«nt mm to F^qlnand Pizarro with the
evidences of hit guilt. TniB circunialanc , combined with
UitbnnaticMi of ooMplradep |n «et|ral (Hher placM, whjoh had
fiir their o^efMo nree AJmagro from ppiaon^aad to give him
iNNifeitlun of JDi^o, •aUiflHl Ferainanp risarro Uiat the
eoujitrv womd n^er be Ini qiilet f hik Aliiiagro lived.
Ferdinand acoording)y brought Almagro lo trial, in vhjfh
)^p WM «miv|Hl(}ll of Mlvlng ociififlinn to HU the preceding dls-
qnlenf of wniui he was tne Arsi anil chief eaUBe i liaVHi| be-
rtfiie war by several acts of hostiiitiea | having taken lorei-
poiMssion of the city of Cuico hy his own private autho-
rity,, where he put several persons to death merely for oppos-
ing his unlawml usurpation ) and having marched in hostile
array into the province of Chincha, which incontetitibly be^
longed to the province assigned to the marquis. When sen-
tence of death was pronounced, Almagro said every thing he
could thinkyof to excite the compassion of Ferdinand Pisarro
that he might spare his life. He represented tliut the nier*
quip t'ti a great measure owed his present gieatness to hini i
She hBoadvapced the greatest l^rnpnrtinti of jhe original
nd^ for the discovery of reru. lie uesireij Ferdinand to
recoQMt, that when he was a prisoner in his hands, he had
set hhn at ubertv contrarv to the representations of his officera*
who ivdvised tnat he should be put to death : And that
though he, PiaarrOf might have been ill ' >^atod while a pri-
soner, that had been done without his orders or knowlcdgei
t)e inilreated him to consider his ver^ edvanced age, which
would iioon prlDg hipi to the grave, without the disgrace of a
public punlshm^t Ferdinan4 expressed his astonishment
that one of such great courage should shew so much fear of
death, which was now inevitable, and desired him to submit
to the will of God lik* a good Christian, and to meet death
with the courage of a gentlelnao and a man of honour.
Almagro replied, that he ought not to be surprised at see^
ing him afraid of death, being a man and a sinner, since
even Jesus Christ had evinced a fear to die. All this how-
ever was of no avail, as Ferdinand caused him to be behead-
ed.
After the execution of Almagro, Ferdinand Pizarro went
*<-..- * -I , - ■*• ^\\i^ ,trt% ,^f,^ -
OfUP. Ti. ttcr. Ill* bif JVwn'cMCO Piaarro,
Ul
to Cdlao, where he punidicd Mew for having excited muti-
ny among the troops of Candia ; after which he sent the three
hundred men under the command of PeranAires to reduce
the country which had been astigned to Pedro de Gandla.
T1ie«e troop* had to march by a most difficuk and dangerous
route among morasses and uncultivated places^ where they
Uiought to have perished of fiunine. Ferdinand remuned in
Ck>Uao, which he reduced. This is a level country contain-
ing several gold mines, but so cold that it produces no maize,
the natives living principally on a root named papas, which
resembles tru£9es. This country likewise abounds in those
Seruvian sheep which have been formerly described ". About
lis time trie marnuis came to Cutco, to which place Ferdi-
nand went to confer with him, leaving his brother Oonzalo
l*JisariH lo cimtinue his conquest. Gonzalo advanced into
the province of the Charcas *°, where he was attacked by a
nreat body of Indians and reduced to great straits, insomuch
tnat Ferdinand set out from Cuzco to his assistance widi a
body of horse. On this occasion, on purpose to encourage
these succours to use every possible expeaition, the marquis
mive out that he meant to go in per$ton to relieve his brotner
Gonzalo, and actually went two or three days journey from
Cuzco. When Ferdinand arrived at Charcas, he found that
Gonzalo had already extricated himself firom his difficulties,
having defeated and dispersed the enemy. They continued
together for sometime reducing the country, haying frequent-
ly to fight with the Indians, till at last they took their chief
prisoner, named Tiao**, on which the natives univeraalty
submitted. Ferdinand and Gonzalo now returned to Cncco,
where the marquis distributed settlements to every one suffi-
cient to maintain them in ease and comfort.
About this time likewise various other parties were sent out
in different directions to discover and reduce the provinces of
Peru and the neighbouring districts ; among die commanders
of
19 Collao in tbe text is probaUy Cailloma of modent mspf, a very elevit-
cd valley at the head of one of the branches of the Apurimac. The nuunhy
countiy beyond, to which Candia and Peranzures were sent on discovery, to
called Mutu by Garcilasso, and was probably the Pampas or naarshy plains
of the Mojo* or Moju, to the eaft of the Andes, nearly in the latitude <^
Cailloina>''t-£.
80 We learn from Garcilasso that in this province the city of La Plata
was afterwsrds built, not far distant fromthe famous mines of PotosiandPorco
-E.
31 Perhaps the Inca Titu Yupanqui is here meant, who was named Tizo-
Sopangui by Zarate on a former occasion.— £.
.«XllMMM«>ik#>
448
Conquest of Peru vart ii. book it.
of thcM detockmenU were the captains Vei^aro, Force),
Mercadillo, and Ouevcra. Pedro de Voldivia Jikewitewas
sent to ChUi, where Almagro had rormcrly been, and Oonza-
lo Piaarrc to Quito, of whose adventures we shall speak here-
after. When all these matters were arranged, by which the
Spaniard! were dispersed in various parts, and tronquilliiy waa
restored to the countnr, Ferdinand Fizarro set out tor Spoin
to ffive an account to the emperor of all the trannactimis which
had taken place in Feru, though many adviotd him not to
run the risk of that measure until it was known what judgw
ment might be formed at court respecting the death of Alma-
sro* Bef(Mre his departure, Ferdinand strongly advised his
raother the marquis to put no trust in those who hod adher-
ed to the service of Almagro in the late troubles, who were
usually denominated the Chilese, and particularly tliat he
ought to keep them at a distance from each other, being well
assured that if even eight or ten of them were permitted to
dwell in one neighbourhood, that they would tbrm conspira*
cies against his life.
ii:
Section IV.
ISixpeditions of Pedro de Valdivia into Chili, and of Gonzah
% Pifxirro to Los Candos.
On the arrival of Pedro de Vaklivia in Chili, he was peace- .
ably received i»y the Indians, who wished to gather in their
crops, as it was then tlie season of harvest. When this im-
portant business was accomplished, the whole country rose
upon the Spaniards, who were unprepared for this event and
somewhat oisperscJ, and killed toity of them before they
could draw their forces togetlier. On this occasion, when
Valdivia was about to take the field to chastise the Chilese,
part of his troops threatened to mutiny against his authority,
and he was under the necessity of hanging several of the ring-
Jeaders, among whom was captain Pedro Sanoho de Hosz,
who was almost equal to himself in the command of this ex-
pedition. After the suppression of this mutiny, Valdivia
jtook the field ag nst the Indians, and during his absence an
Army of the entiuy exceeding seven thousand men came to
xittack the newly established city, in which only a small num-
Jt)er of Spaniards remained for its defence, under the com-
mand
cuAB. vi.flBCT. I?, by Franeiseo Pizarro.
449
niand of the ciptains Ftaixiiaco de Vlllagran, and Alfonso d«
Monroy. Tbete officers went boldly out againiit the Chile$e«
nt the head only of thirty horsemen, with whom they fought
bravely against the immense number of Chilesc archers from
morning till night, after which they retired into the city,' ex*
tremely fatigued and several of them wounded, bpt none of
them slain. As the Chilese suffered a great loss in killed and
wounded during this engagement, they retired during the
night.
£br eight years afterwards, Valdivia and his troops defend-
ed themselves bravely against everv ef&rt of the Cbilese, who
continued the war mcessuntly. in all that time, Valdivia
obliged his soldiers to cultivate a sufficient quantity of land
for Uicir sustenance, not being able to procure Indians for
that purpose, yet resolved not to abandon the countiy which
had been conimked to his government. At the end of that
peri6d he returned into Peru, at the time when the licentiate
Pedro dc la GaMa was employetl in levying an ai-my against
Gouzaio Pizarro, as shall be related in the sequel '.
Soon after the overthrow of the Almagrians, it was report-
ed in Peru that a very rich country had been discovered to
the eastwards of Quito, which in particular contained great
quantities of cinnamon trees, on which account it got the
name of Los CnneloH, or the cinnamon country. Tlie mar-
quis acicordin^y resolved to send his brother Gonzalo Pizar-
ro to discover that country ; and as it was necessary to
march thither by way of Quito, where likewise every requisite
for the expedition was to be procured, the marquis conferred
the government of the kingdom of Quito on hik brother, till
his majestys pleasure might be made known. Gonzalo Pi-
zarro accordingly set out from Cuzco with a considerable
force, taking his i^ute for Quito by way of the elevated
mduntain vallies *, In this march lie was opposed by the
Indians of the province of Guanuco with so iitinh perseve-
rance and bravery, that the marquis was ur<uer th : necessity
of sending him a reinforcement under Francisu) tie Chaves.
After
J We shall have a future opportunity of giving a better account of the
discovery and conquest of Chili than this extremely meagre notice by Zarate
from Molina, Ovalle and other early authors. I'he nameless city mention-
ed by Zarate was probably St Jago de Chili, which was founded byViildivia,
The commencement of the Valdivian expedition was in the year IS30.— B»,
2 This forre, according to Garcilasso, amounted to IW) liorse, and w\
equal number of foot.- -E. ',/ . - ■ !i ',; - ,,. ,
:l\
Ccmqmeti ^Peru mrt u, boob tt»
After haring orerooine this o(»UcIe» htarritred in uifttjrat
Quito, where hejprooecded to meke prepwratioiit for lii* «»>
pedition to Los Cenelot.
On Mcount of tlw hotlile oondoct of the Oouiiieot to-
Wftrde Oonzalo, and becauie the curacai or cadquet of that
province, in cotgunction with thoae of the Conchncoe had
made frequent attacfci on the city nnd province of Truxillo»
in which thev killed all the S^Nuiiard* th^ conU meet with
and pillagetf the country, not even ^paring their Indian
neighuourt, the mtrqub lent a detachment m troops under
Oomea de Alvarado to make a conquest of Ouannco, with
orders to establish a settlement in that country to keep die
aativcs under sul^ection. In their military expeditions, the
Peruvians of Ouanueo carried an idol along with them, nam-
ed Catuquilla, to which they made offerings of all whom they
mas-oacred or made prisoners, and of the apoil which fell in-
to their hands. They pernsted for a leiw time in their bar-
barous hostilities, till at length, Miguel oe la Cema raised a
coDMderable force in Truxillo, with which he joined Franeis^
CO de Chaves. With these forces conjoined, they fought
successfully against the Indians of Gnanuco and reduced them
Id subjection.
When Gontalo Pizarro had completed the preparations
for his cxptdition, he set out from Quito in the year 1540 at
the head of 200 Spaniards well equipped, of whom the half
was cavalry '. He was attended by 4^00 friendly Indians \
atid by a nock of 4000 animals, consititinff of swine and Pe-
Tttvian sheep, to serve as provisions, and to carry the bao-
gitte and ammunition of the army. After passing a place ctu-
Kd Inca, the boundary of the oonqnests or Huana Capac to-
wards the north and east, Gonzalo arrived in the country of
the Qubcos, where he was opposed by the natives, bttt tnejr
all disappeared one n%ht, without the Spaniards being abfe
to make a single prisoner. On the retreat of the Iiraians,
Gonzalo and his troops took possession of their deserted ha-
bitations in which they rested for some days. While here,
tbe country was visited by a dreadful earthquake, accompa-
Bied by prodigious thunder and lightning and an immense
fell
8 According to Garcilaiso de la VM;a, hit force coMitted of 340 Span-
iards, oF whom 1 50 were koriemen. — £.
* These Indians, according to Garcilasso, Were laden with armi^ previ-
sions, and ammunition, besides large quantities of hatchets, roprs> nail^ and
wooden pins, to use upon occasion.— £.
ciur. ti. ttcr. it. l^ Francisco Pinarro,
4M
% day or
which to
fidl of rain. The earth opened in many olaces and swallow*
«d UD ahovt five hundreu heuies. B^ tne exccaaive raina,
which continued Ibrty or fifty dayi, a nver in the neighboiuw
hood of the Spanish (quarters becane so swollen that it wai
quite impossablef in consequence of which the troops sufiered
tnuch from fan^e* as they were unable to get aorou the
river in search of provisions. On the cessation of the tem-
pest. Oonzalo had to cross a pirodinous ridge of mountaini^
on the top of which they suffered such extreme cold tliat
many of their attendant Indians were fnnen to death. And
as no provisions or shelter could be had in that elevated r^
gion» he mode haste to arrive in the province of Zumaoo '
which is situated at the foot of a volcano. As provisions were
found here in abundance* the army halted ui this place fcur
refreshments. In the mean time Gonzalo went with a smafl
party of troo|M to endeavour to find out a passage throi^
the forest. He at length reached the fannks of a river nam-
ed Coca, whence he sent for the remainder of his people to
join him from Zumaco. During two months that the army
remained in this country, it never ceased raining *
night, so that they never hod a sufficient interval in
drv their clothes.
In this province of Zumaco the trees are found which a&
ford cinnamon. These trees are very lar^ and have leavea
resembling the loureL Their fruit orows m dusters, consis-
ting of a nut resembling the acorn S the cork tree, but larg>
er» and containing a number of small seedft. The fruit,
leaves, bail:, and roots have all the taste and flavour of dn* [:
namon < but the best consists of the shell or nut which con*
tains the seeds. In the whole of that country yast number!
of these trees are fi>und wild in the woods, growing and pro-
dncing fruit without care i but the Indians cultivate tnem
with much attention in thdr (dantations { and these cultiva^*
cd tre^ produce a mudi better cinnamon than those trees
which grow wild. Thia cinnamon is in great request among
the natives, and is exchanged by the inbibitants of Zumaco
with the ndfljibouring tribes, receiving in return provisiona
and other thmgs of imich they are in want.
Leaving the greater part of his people in the country of
Zumaco, as has been already said, Gonzab penetrated into
the
5 Porhaps tht elevated valley «f Macai on the river Morons which russ
^nt* thsTHngHniua.— £.
'
\*\
lil
\i
!
4^
.fi\V
^ikst of Peru PaUlt Yi. «baic*Jf.
the country with much difficuhy, accompanied by' the nip&t
vigorous ot his men, and guided by thfe Indians, who il^ilkvt-
ly gave him false accounts of the country in advance; On pUr>
pose to get him aWay from their own dfstrict. ' Thu^ the
people of Zumaco informed him that the country beyohd
theirs was well peopled and had abundance of provisions ; bitt
he found it extremely barren ahcV very thinfy inhabited^
Having penetrated to the province of Coca' tipon a lar^e fiver
of that name, he remained there about six W^cks, waitinjr
the arrival of the rest of his people from Zuih^cO, all the whr^
treated in a friendly manner by the cacique of the district.:'*'
After his troops were all assembled at Coca, Oopzalb
inarched along the course of the river, till at last he arrived
at a place w^'"•e it fell over a cataract of above ^00 &thoms
making n, . that could be easily heard at six leagues dis-
tance. A itv«r days march be^ow that place, the whole waters
of tlie river became confined in a rocky channel not exceed-
ing twenty feet wide, while the rocks were at least 200 fathoms
in height above the water, and perfectly perj^chdicular.
After a march of fifly leagues along the banks of this vlvefji
the Spaniards could find no place where they might possibly
cross over, except at that narrow rocky channel, where H
considerable number of Indians opposed their passage.
Havins driven away these Indians by meami of their fire^
arms, tne Spaniards constructed a wooderi bridee across be-
tween the steep rocks, over which they all passed in safety.
After crossing the river, the Spaniards penetrated through
the woods to a country named Guema, wnich was extrem^y
flat and intersected with rivers and marshes, and in whicn
they could get no provisions except wild fruits ; but aftei' this
they came to a country tolerably peopled, in which there
were some provisions. In this place the natives we're cotton
vestments, out in the whole country through which they had
hitherto passed, the few niatives they had seen werle entirely
naked, either on account of the continued and exc^sive heat
of the dimate, or because they had no means of procnring
clothes : The men'' hod only a kind of girdles round their
waist, with some strings tied to their prepuce, 'which passed
between their thighs and were drawn up t6 the girdle; and
the women wore some slight clouts. At this place Gonzalo
built a bark to serve for crossing the rivei« in search of pro-
Visions, and to transport the baggage and the sick by water.
Besides, in some places the country was so covered with
woody
CHAV. VI. SECT. IV. Inf Fraticisco Pizarro.
447
vrood, that they were unable to clear the way by means of
their swords and hatchets, and in other places so inunihted,
that they were often oblig^ to tnmsport the whole party by
water. The building of this vessel occasioned infinite dm.-
culty.and labour, as betides catting down wood for the pur-
pose, they had to construct a forge in which to make the ne^
pessary iron work, which they made from the shoes of their
dead horses. On this occasion, Gonzalo not only obliged
every one to labour without regard to rank, but gave the
example himself in using both the hatchet and the nammer
as occasion required. Instead of pitch and tar, the gum
which exuded from some trees of the forest was coOected ;
and instead of flax and hemp, the old clothes of the Indians
aud the worc-out shirts of tne Spaniards were employed for
caulking the seams. Hiey at length succeeded in making
their bark capable of swimming, so as to transport all their
. baggage very commodiously ; besides which they hollowed
out {several canoes to accompany the bark instead of boats.
Gonzalo flattered himself that all his difiicultics would be
surmounted by means of this bark, and that he would now
be able to pursue his discoveries to any extent he pleased.
He continued his march therefore, accompanied by the bark
which carried the baggage, while the main body had to tra-
vel along the banks of the river, often greatly incommoded
in passing marshes, thick woods, and close brushwood. In
some of these places they had to cut their way through canes
and reeds with great toil, by means of their swords and
hatchets ; often changing from one sidu ot (he river to the
other in search of an easier road. In this march they were
always aocompaiiied by tlie bark ; and at night the whole
pai-ty united together, that they might be able to give mutual
assistance in case of need. After having penetrated above
two 'hundred leagues, always fdlowuig the course of the river,
during which space they got only wild fhiits and roots to
support them, Gonzalo gave orders to Francisco de OrcUana,
one of his captains, lo go forwards in the bark with fifty men.
in search of provisions; with orders to load his bark with
these if he found any, leaving all the baggage at a place where
two great rivers joined, according to intbrmation received
Jfirom the Indians ; and likev/ise to leo/e two canoes in a river
which crossed the road to that ^»iace by land, to s.erve for
ferrj'in*? over the troops.
* Oreflana set out accordingly in the bark, and was very
soon carried by the current to the appointed place where the
twa
! <l
1.
44S
Conquest qf Peru pakt ii. book ii.
//
/
two rivers met ; but finding no provisions, and considering
the immense difficulty of going up the river against a rapM
current, he resolved to trust himself to the stream to try hi»
fiurtune in that way, He even neglected to leave the two
canoes at this place according to the orders of Gonzalo ; and
although several of those who were akMig with him in the bark
urged him to remain according to the orders of his creneral,
be insisted upon going forwards, even maltreating Friar Gas*
pard de Carvajal, who opp«Mted this act of mutiny and deser-
tion more forcibhr than any of the rest. In his progress
down the river, Orellana and his people frequently land^ in
search of provisions, and had often to fi^t with the Indians,
who sometiroef even attacked him in the bark by means df
canoes, on which occasion the Spaniards could hturdty defend
themselves they were so crowded. On this last account he
built a second Dark, at a place where the Indians received
him in a fricndiv manner and supplied him with provisions.
From these Indians he was informed of a district a few days
journey farther on, which was entirely inhabited by women,
who made war and defended themselves against their neigh"
hours*. ^ ,
Following continually the stream of the river, but without
finding any gold or silver, or the least indication of these me*
tab, Orellana arrived at the mouth of this river on the Atlan-
tic Ocean, about 350 leagues from the island of Cubagua.
This great river is called the Moraffnon or Marannon, from
Xrson of that name who first discovered its mouth. It
s its rise in Peru on the eastern slopes of the Andes of
Quito, and its entire course measured in a straight line ex-
tends to 700 leagues ; but following all its flexures from the
Andes to the ocean, it measures at feast 1800 lef^es. At
its mouth it measures 1 5 leagues in breadth, and in many
parts of its course is three or four leiwues broad. Orellana
went afterwards into £^ain ^, where he gave an account to
hi»
6 Even Garcilauo, who is suffiucntly fond of the marvellous and ever
ready ti adopt absurdities, honestly relates of these jimazoiu, that they wers
a fierce and wild nation of men, whose wives went forth to war along with
dieir husbiinds ; and 'hat Orellana invented the tale of a nation of Amazons
to raise the honour of bis atchievement, and to induce the emperor to bestow
upon him the government of the country he had discovered. — ^E.
t According to Garcilasso, he contrived with great difficulty and danger
to navigate in his rude bark from the mouth of the Marannon or Amaions
to the island of Triaidada, where he purchased a ship for hb voyage t»
Spain.— £.
CHAP. Ti. sxct. vr. b^ JPtaMisco Pizah'o,
^^^[^
his majesty of his discovcryt which he pretended to have
made at his own charges. He allied that he had discovered
a very rich country inhabited o ' a nation of warlike females^
on which account the country and river carae to be called ^
the Amazons. Having procured a commission of governor
of this new amntry from his majesty, he levied a force of five
hundred men for its conquest, with which he embarked from
Seville: But having a most unprospcrous voya^j^e, in which,
his people suffered much from scarcity of provisiotts, mbst of
his followers deserted from him at the Canaries, leaviDg him
almost alone. He died during the subsequent part of the
voyage, and all his remaining companions dispersed thero«
selves among the islands.
Oonzalo Pizarro was reduced to prodigious straits in con-,
sequence of the desertion of Orellana, both by the want of
provisions and the difticulty of passing the rivers in his courae )
besides which Orellana had carried away with him a great
quantity of gold» silver, and emeralds, which he converted to
his own use in making his solicitations at the comrt of SpailH
and in fitting out his expedition for the conquest and settle^
ment of Amazonia. On his arrival at the place where Orel*
lana had been ordered to leave the canoes, for the purpose of
facilitating the passage of certtun rivers which fall into Uid
great Maranon, Gonzalo and his }ieople were exceedingly
embarrassed, and had to make other canoes with much dim-
culty to enable them to cross over, that they might continue
their journey. When they came aflerwards to whcte the two
large rivers joined ^, and where OrelIa;> ugbt to. have walt«
ed for them, they found a Spaniard who had been left at
this place by Orellana, because he bad opposed the continu*^
tiott of the voyage, and preferred to wait in that place for his
general ^. By his account, Orellana had renounced his d6-
peudence on Gonzalo Pizarro, n;s;^ing to proceed to discof^
ver the river in his own name and authority, and had pre-
vailed on the people who accompanied himi to elect him of
new for their captain. ., ,,„|^ .,;,.. ,,,;.
VOL. IV. t ■.- . ... {*■*-. jM»»^».i%^^>fU .»»■«•- f,,^'Bij^;
• Hie rirer' Napo joliu ttie Maranon in lat. 3« 90' S. 'atid lolif . 7o«
W. But ws are uncertain whether this were the place where Orellana de-
serted, as there are many junctions of Urge rivers iu the course of the vast
Maranon. The two gre^.test of its tributary streams are the Negro which
joins in long. 60<' W. from the north, and the Madeira ia long. 58" W.
from the south.— E.
9 Garcilasso preserves the name of that faithful Spani^r^HerMBdo San*
chez de Vargas, a young gentleman of Badajos«—S.
45t
Cojiquest ofPtm vaet it. book ix.
By the loM of their vessel Gonzalo and his men wejre de^
privcd of every means of procuring provisions from the In-*
dians« as all the mirrors, bells, and other baubles for troding
with the natives of the country had been put on board the
bark. In this hopeless and diKConraging situation, above
four hundred leagues distant from Quito, they came to the
immediate resolution of returning to that city { although,
from the length and diflScuity of the way., through forests and
miffshes, they had very little hope of ever getting back, and
oould hardly expect to escape dying of fammt* in the moun-
tains and deserts over wh:cn they had to pass. In fact above
ftfrty actually died of famine during the march. Afler re-
commending themselves to the mi-rcy of God, they began
their march in great dejection ; and as the way in which they
came from Peru was full of difficulties and destitute of provi-
sions, they took another road in tlieir return, altogether at
hazard, wnich they did not find in any degree better than the
Ibrmer". Befort reaching Peru, they were under the ne-
OBssity r.i kil'ing all their remaming horses to keep themselves
from starving, and even to eat all tueir dogs. !n tfie course
of this joartiey likewise, they were reduced to the necessity
of^feedii. ' on certain strings, or twining pl»nts, a good deal
like the tendrils of vines, which they found in the woods, and
which had the taste oi' garlic. During this march a wild cat
or a turkey sold for four dollars, and one of the sea-birds
named Alcatraz, formerly mentioned as being very bad eat-
ing, brought a dolilar or more, although reckoned very un-
wholesome.
Some short time before Gonzalo gut to Peru intelligence
of his return had reached Quito, on which the inhabitants
collected a considerable number of swiae and Peruvian sheep
which they sent off to meet him. They sent off at the same
time a good many horses, and a supply of clothes for Gonzalo
and his officers. This seasonable supply met them ab(. ve tihy
leagues firom Quito, and one may easily judge that it was re-
ceived with much joy, especially the provisions. The whole
party, from the general to the private soldier, was nimost en-
tirely naked ; as, from the almost continual rains to which
they had been exposed, and the other hardships of dieir jour-
>T .1,
'10 We learn from GarcilMto that thianev road was on the nortli- side of
the river, Kapo probably, and concequr ,^ly that thev had kept thfe south,
it4e in their way eMtw«rds.>~^£.
■«I<
CHAP. VI. 8BCT. IT. by Frdwitco Piiurh.
451
nejTi their clothes were all rotten and torn to rags, and they
were reducedto the necessity of coverinff thenrsclves with the
skins of beasts. Tlieir swords were aU without scabbards,
and almost destroyed with rust. Their Ieg»' ahd |urtn»; wei^
torn and scratched by the brushwood, thorns, and brakes,
through which they had travelled ; and the who^) par^ w^re
so pale, lean, and worn out with fittigue and famine, that
their moat intimate acquaintances were hardly aUe torecc^^
nizcthem. Among all their privations, what they felt- the
most unsufTerabie, was the want of salt, of which they had
not been able to procure the smallest supply for abow two
hundred leagues. i'j;:;v : •■
On arriving in the kingdom of Quito, where every thing
they stood in need of was brought them, they knelt down
and kissed the ground as a mark of gratitude and satisfaction,
and returned thanks to God for their preservation from so
many dangers. Such was their eagerness for food after so
long famine, that it became necessary to regulate their sup-
ply, and only to allow them to eat by little and little at a
time, till their stomachs became accustomed to digest their
food. As there had only been scut from Quito a sufficiency
of horses and clothes for Gonzalo and his officers, they reH »•
ed to avail themselves of either, not choosing to enjoy any
advantages which they could not share with their soldiers,
by which they rendered themselves extremely popular and
gafred their a£fection greatly. They arrived at Quito in the
morning, and went immediately to church to hear mass, and
to give thanks to Ood for their delivery from so many and
severe evils j after which every one retired to his quarters, to
refresh and clothe themselves according to their means. This
country of Los Canrlos, whence the cinnamon is procured.
Is immediately under the equinoctial line, similar in that re-
spect to the Mo'ucca islands, whence cinnamon is brought in-
to i^in and other parts of Europe ".
Section
11 It 18 hardly necessary to say that cinnamoti comes only from Ceylon,
not from the Moluccas ; and that so entirely different was the substance
•ought for in this disastrous expedition from cinnamon, that it is now ea>
tirely unknown in Europe ; unless it be the Canclla alba, now only used as
a light aromatic of small value by druggists.
Zarate is generally loose and confused in his accounts, and almost en tire-
ly neglectful of dates. We learn from the History of America that th! i un-
fortunate expedition lasted near two years, and that two hundred and ten
Spaniards
*5e
C^mfuest ^Peru part 1 1. booi; ir.
ftJiw ,'y.
SscrioM Vi
^v .. . .
•JCwsjf^raty i^ih9 Mmagrians and Assassination qfPizarro.
;QN-liit rettivA to Qvito in 1041, Gonzalo Pizarro received
ilfiCQupta of thei most afflicting nature. When, as formerly
cdatef),.. Don Diego Almairro was put to death at Cuzco hj
FefditiJind Pizcjrro, fi son whom Aimiurro had by an Indian
WOinaniwas B^t to reside in Lima. This young man, who
was nomed aftor hit &ther Diego Almagro« wis of a graceful
appearance, handsome, generou--, and excelling; in all the mar-
til^ «xerc}t|c«» being particii!r<rly graceful und dexterous in
lidiflg the nwinngp horse. His Hterary education lilrewi«e
\ftid been so oarefully attended to, tht^t he was considered as
more versant in these things than h)s situation required.
Jiiaii de Herrnde, formerly mentiont il, to whose care he had
be«n eapecinlky confided by his father, undertook the care of
educatitig'ybnn<i: Almagro in the capacity of his governor,
attd ImmT bean particuTorly watchi'ul and successnil in the
t^iairgew vTheir liouse in Lima was the rendezvous of such
fnentdi* and partixans of the late Almagro as remained unem-
EV^ed in Peru, and had been excepted from the division of
mdi «nd Indians after the defeat of their party, as the ad-<
lierents of the Pizarros would not, and their dependents dar-
od not to have any intercourse with them.
After the voyage of Ferdinand Pizarro to Spain, and the
setting out of Gonzalo Pizarro upon his disastrous discovery
of Los Canelos, Herrada and the younger Aimagro, being
noiw left at entire liberty by the Marquis, who before had
hield them in a species of imprisonment, began to take mea-
sures for the execution of an enterj^rize th(?y had long con-
tcmpJated. For this purpose they secretly provided arms and
every thing that appeared necessary for their project of re-
venging, tne death of the elder Almaprro. Their partizans
were farther animated to the accomplishment uf this design
from
^mv.u-".*?'
«;W> -irc'jr")?*.
'^^niar^i and fiotlftltouiMtffotUaiu perished durint; its continuance, only
Wghty Spaniards retnrning to Quito. Garcilasso says that two thousand of
the Indians returned along with the Spaniards, and served them during the
harddilips of the journey with the most affectionate fidelity, supplying theit
extreme pecessities with herbs, roots, and wild fruit, and with toads, snakesjj
:^d other reptiles, which the Spaniards greedily devoured, or they moat har^
died for want of food, — £.
-DHAV. VI. lEor^ ▼. by FranciKO Pittirre,
^83
from resentment for the death of several of their fricndl and
companions, who had been cut off during the late ciiAl war.
The marquis had often ustd his endeavours to recuhdile Al-
magro and Herrada to his authority by gentle nlieaiM, and
by the offer of his fricnddiip and patronage to them ami
4neir adherents ; but finding all his advances inefieotuak tlb
^ieprived Aimagro of the moderate repartition of IiidiaHs
which had been assigned to him, on purpose to prevent hlM
.from continuing to form a party by the application of hisfor'>
tune to the support of the malcontents. All these precau*-
tions were ultimately ineffectual, as the Almagrians were so
closely united among themselves, that ail their property W&s
in a great measure held common among the members of their
party, even every thing that the individuals acquired by play
or otherwise being tlirown into a common stock in the hands
of Herrada to serve their general expence. Their numbers
increased daily, by the accession of all who were dissatisfied
by the administration of the marquis, or who thought their
merits overlooked in the distribution of property and employ*-
ments. They secretly increased their atore of arms, and took
measures for securing the success of their plot.
Their conduct, however secretly pursued, being known
among many, came at length to the knowledge of some firiends
of the marquis, who endeavoured to put him on his guard
against the machinations of bis enemies. But he, confiding
in his honour and good faith, judged of others by himself,
and refused to listen to this advice; saying that it was proper
to leave these unfortunate men in peace, who were ahfeady
sufficiently punished by the shame oi' their defeat, the public
hatred, and the {poverty to whichikthey were xeduced. So
much were the Almagrians encour^ed by the patient indul-
gence of the marquis, that their chiefs used even to pass him
in public without saluting him or giving him any token of re-
spect ; and one night some of them had the audacity to afiSx
three ropes to the gibbet, one of which was stretched towards
the palace of the marquis, another towards the house of his
lieutenant, and the third to that of his secretary. Even this
insolence was forgiven by the marquis, in consideration of
their misery and the unhappy situation of their aflhirs. Pro-
fiting by this indulgence, the Almagrians ass^nbled together
ahnost openly, several of their party who were wandering
about the country without property ov employment, coming
to Lima from the dis^mce even of two hundred leagues.
They
M4
Conquest of Petu pabt ii. jook ii.
,Tbey r«$i^«d apon putting th(> marquis to death ; y«t twaif*
ed to bettr from ijpain what judgment might be given in diac
oase of Ferdinand Fizarro, who wa8 there thrown into prison
gp accukfd of the murder of Don Diego Almagro ; and to
prosecute whom Captain Diego Alvarado tmd gone home and
>ytif actively eng'|{ed in soliciting his trial and punishment.
"Wh^O^the coDi|jiirator8 learnt that bis majesty had iippointed
ikisk licentiate Vacsv dc Castro to proceed to JFeru, on purpose
to examine into all the past disorders, but without orders to
prosecute the death of Aimagro with that rigorous severity
which they wished and expected, they rcsolvecT upon the exe-
cution of their long concerted entcrprize. They were anx--
ious, however, to learn exactly the intentions of Vuca dc Cas-
trd, as the intended assassination of the marquis was by no
means universally approved among the Almagrian>. Several
of the gentlemen belonging to the party, although much iu"
censed at the death of Aimagro, were anxious only for rt dress
by lei^al means, and in u manner that might be conioj mnblc
with the pleasure and service of the sovereign. The chiefs of
this conspiracy who were now assembled in Lima, were Juan
de Saavedra, Alfonso de Montcmayor, Juan de Gusman cotir
iLroller, Manuel de Espinar treasurer, Nngnez de Mr rcado
agent, Christoval Ponce de Leon, Juan de Herrada, Pero
Lopez de Ayala, and some others. Jn this assemblage, Don
Alfonso dc Montemayor was deputed to wait upon Vacu do
Castro ; and accordingly set out with letters of credence <ind
dispatches to meet Vaca de Castro at the begin rung of April
1541. Alter his arrival at the place where Vaca (fe C astro
then was, and before he proposetl to return to his employers,
news was brought of tha asvsassination of the marquis. On
this occasion, Montema^r and some others of the Almagri>
an party, who were not concerned in the murder, remained
with Vaca de Castrp till after the defeat of the younger Ai-
magro in the battle of Chupas, preferring the service of their
sovereign, in whose name and authority de Castro acted, to
their individual rcsentmt nts.
So public hud the measures of the conspirators become in
the city uf Lima, that several persons gave notice of their in-
tentions tp the marauis, and advised him to employ a guard
for he protection of^his person: But he always said that the
^ives of others would guard him from violence, and that he
'was resolved to give no cause for suspecting that he used pre?
pft^tioDs pf defence agaipst the judge whom his majesty was
■f^n I
10
taw. VI. SECT. V. ijjf Francitco J^izaro,
*55
Bendinff to Peru. On one occasion, Jnan de Herrada oom-
pJaineu to the marquii of a report that he meant to put all
thu friends of Almagro to death. The marquis assurcKi him
that the re' lort was entirely groundless i and when Herrada
mentitmed that the marquis was collecting a great number of
lances and othur arms, as a confirmation of the report that
these were intended against the Almagrians, the marquis rc>
plied in the gentlest terms, that these arms were by no means
intended to be used againtit him or his friends. He even
presented Herrada with several oranges whicf' he pluckt for
nim, which were then esteemed a high delicacy, as they were
the first that were grown in Peru ; and told him privately,
that if he were in want of any thing, he had only to give him
notice, and he might depend on being provided for. Herra-
dii kissed bis hands, and thanked him lor his kindness, going
away delighted with the assurance that the marquis seemed
to have nu suspicion whatever of the conspiracy.
On arriving at his house, where the principal conspirators
waited for him, it was determined to kill the marquis on the
fuilowing Sunday, as they had not been able to put their de>
sign into execution on the festival of St John ' as they at
fint intended. On the Saturday immediately preceding,
one of the conspirators revealed the circumstances of the
plot in confession to the curate of the great church of
Lima. The curate went that same evening to, communicate
tlie intelligence to Antonio Picado, secretaiy to Jthe marquis,
who immediately carried the curate lo Francisco Martinex de
Alcantara, the marquises brother *, where the marquis then
was at supper together with his children \ On being in<
formed of the urgent business on which they came, the mar-
quis rose from table and retired to another room, where the
curate informed him of every thing he had learnt respecting
4he conspiracy. The marquis was at first considerably agitat-
ed by his intelligence : but afler a moments reflection, he
4aid that he could not credit the story, as Herrada had been
with
1 The fettivalof St John the Evangelist b on the 5th May but the assaiina*
tion of the Marquis did not take place till the S6th June 1541. — £.
S In a former note, it has been mentioned, on the authority of Robert'
son, that Frtncisro de Alcantara was the uncle of Pizarro by his mother;
yet Garcilasso calls him his brother, and perhaps he was so by a different fa-
ther.— ^E.
3 The language of the French translator is here rather eijuivocal, but
distinctly bears the construction here given of the marquis being at supper
In the house of de Alcantara.'^— £.
iw
Conquna of Peru book it. r^MT fi^
with hini only a few dayt before, and had convened
him witb much humility i for which r* «>ion he wu conv
with
convinced
that the nun who now Wought th ->'.<,elligence had aome 8C-
'^^ret end to serye, and had invented this itory to aaiume
ipierit He tent however, for his lieutenant, the doctor Juan
.Velasquez * meanipg \jo ponHult with him ; but as Velasauez
was ill in bed, the marquis went to his house, and told him
fdl that he had heard. Yelaquea used every argument to
. tconviuce hhn that the story was &]se, and that he had no-
thing tp fear. Taking yp his rod of office, he declared that no
one dared to revolt «o long as he held that badge in his
hand, and that the marqui^ might rest in security. He may
be said in some measure to have kq)t his word j for when
the Almagrians came next day to kill the marquis, Velasquez
.made his escape over a window, and took his rod of office in
his teeth, that he might use both his hands to assist himself
f n his descent.
In spite of all these assurances the marquis was somewhat
alarmed, insomuch that next day, being Sunday the *26th
June 1541, l.>e determined not to go to church, and had the
mass said in his own I^otise. ^fter church, the doctor Velas>
quez and captain Francisco de Chaves, who were the prin-
cipal persons in the colony, went along wjth several other
persons to visit the marquis. Having paid their visit, they
all retired to their houses, except Velasquez and de Chaves
who remained to dine with him. Atier dinner, bi>tween
twelve and one o'clock, when all the attendants of the mar-
quis had retired to their dinner, and the whole city was
quiet, Juan ide Herrada and ten or twelve pf his associates
ail armed sallied forth from the house of Almagrp, which was
not more than three hundred paces from the palace of the
marquis, between which were part of a street and the whole
breadth of the great square. On coming out into the street
with their drawn swords, they exclaimed, ** death to the
^rant who hath sbin the judge sent by the emperor to exe-
cute judgment upon him." They used these words, and
went thus openly, to induce the inhabitants to believe that
their party was numerous, so that no one might take mea-
sures to oppose them Besides this, the conspirators believ-
ed that there was no time for any one to interpose to prevent
the execution of their purpose, and that it vould either be
accomplished^
4 By Garcilasso, Vekwquex ii called the Chief Justice.— £.
4;HAr. Ti. SECT. V. btf Francisco Pitafrp.
467
aocoinpUshed, or themtelvn ilain in the kttempt, before My
effectual succour would arrivb. On their arrival at the pa-
lace of the marquis, one of tlie party remained at tlie gpite
with a bloody sword in his hand, who cried out repeatedly,
'* The tyrant is dead ! the tyrant is dead.'" This had the de-
sired e£lect, as several of the inhabitants who hastened to the
palace un the ftlarra, being convinced that the marquis was
already biain, retired again ^ their houses.
In the mean time Ju Merrada and the rest of the
.conspirators rushecl up <v;(rds the apartment of the
marquis, who, being al. te of the Indian servants,
desired de Chaves to shui jf the saloon and the hall,
while he retired to put ou luk ui.aour. De Chaves was so
much confused, that instead of fastening the doors he went
out to the staircase demanding the reason of the noise ; on
which one of the conspirators wounded him. " This, said
he, is not the usage of a friend," and immediately drew his
sword, but was soon overpowered and slain. The conspira-
tors immediately rushed into the hall, whence ten or twelve
Spaniards who were there made their escape by the win-
dows : Among these was Velasquez, who, as has been already
mentioned, took his rod of office in his mouth, that he might
use his hands the more readily in making his escape by the
window. The marquis was at this time in his chamber, em-
ployed in arming himself, attended by his brother de Alcan-
tara, two other gentlemen, and two pages. Seeing his ene-
mies so near, the marquis was unable to fasten the clasps of
his cuirass, but advanced courageously with his sword and
buckler to defend the entry to the chamber, in which he was
bravely assisted by those who were along with him. He de-
fended himself fur a considerable time successfully, encourag-
ing his brotlicr and the rest by his voice and example. At
length the Almagrians slew de Alcantara, on which one of
the pages took his place beside the marquis. The Ahnagri-
ans, being afraid lest succour might arrive, resolved to mnke ~
a desperate effort, for which purpose one of the best armed
among them forced in at the door and made room for the
rest to enter, who now attacked the marquis and his faithful
companions with such fury that he was soon exhausted with
fatigue and hardly able to handle his arms. At length the
marquis received a mortal thrust in his throat, and falling to
the ground called out in a loud voice for a confessor. Soon
losing all power of speech, he made the sign of the cross on
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iu^ "i^Peru part ii. book ir.
ib» toot with bit finger, which he kissed and expired. Be-
■idei hi« brother, the two pages were likewise slain^ Of the
Mautgiviau, fo^r were killed, and several of the teat wound-
*" When the marquises death was made known, above two
^liidred men wh6 waited the event, declared themselves
loudly in iinronr of Don Diego, and went about the city ar-
resting and disarming all who beemed to favour the party of
the marqnis. The conspiratorti went out into the street wav-
ing their bloody swords, and Hsrrada made Don Diofio ride
•on horseback through the city of Lima, proclaiming him as
governor of Peru. The palace of the marquis, and the
nonces of Alcantara and Picado the secretary were pillaged,
Herrada assembled the cabildo of the city, and obliged them
to acknowledge Don Diego as governor, under pretence that
the elder Almu^ had been appointed by his majesty to the
government of New Toledo, with succession to his son or to
any person he might appoint aa his snceessor. The conspi-
ntors IHcewifieput to <k»th several persons who were particu-
larly attached to the late marquis, and gave vip their hou-^s
Co be plundered by their own pardzan^. It was meUmcholy
to behold the misery and desolation of the wives and children
4>f those who were thus massacred, and whose houses were
pillan^ of every thing valuable, as they went about the streets
bewading their forlorn condition.
Sotae obscure persons ' carried or dragged the dead
body of the marquis to the church, where no one dared to
ffive it burial,. till one Juan Barbaran and his wife, who had
heen servants to the marquis, obtained permission from Don
Diego, and buried the marquis and his brother as well as
they could. They were obliged to hurry over the ceremo-
ny as quickly as possible, having hardly time to clothe the
body in the nabit of St Jago, of which order he was a mem-
ber, and to put on his spurs according to the usual manner
of burying the knights of that order j as they were informed
that some of the Aunaffrians were hastening to the church to
cut off the head of the marquis to affix it to the gallows.
Barbaran himself performed the ceremonies of the funeral, at
which he was sole mourner, and defrayed all the expences
from his own funds. He next endeavoured to i;^'ovide for
the
«;
' 5 Gtrctbsto, quoting Zaratet wyt that the body was dracged to church
kf tome negroei ; the French traiwlator uyt quelquet miuraUet.'—'E.
(T^
yOHA9. Vt. SECT. T. iff t^OHcisM Pizarro,
4iJ»
kcfc
■ Um seourknr of the children of thft inuf^is, who were con-
xeftlod in: aifierent parts of the city of Lima, now nndorthe
•bM^iite cohtroul of the Almagrians.
In this melancholy catastrophe, we have a foi^cible examf^
of the uncertain^ and changeableneu of fortune. M a' veiy
•hort space of time, a private individual who held no imjporl-
nnt offiop, had discovered a vast extent of country containing
powerful kingdoms, of which he made himself roaHtor and go-
vernor with almost uncontrolled authority, bestowing on sd-
vera] persons such, ample fortunes and extensive revenues as
none of the richest and most powerful monarchs whom we
read of in history had ever given away in so short a timft.
Yet was this man assassinated by only twelve men at noon-
day, in the midst of a city the whole inhabitants of which
were his creatures, servants, kinsmen, friends, and sokiiMv,
who had all eaten of his bread and subsisted on his bounty,
«vep his own domestic servants and those who were in his
bouse, flying away and abandoning him to his fate. He was
interred in the most obscure manner, all his richness and
greatness having disappeared, not enough being left to defray
jthe consecrated tapers and other expences of his funeral
Theunst'archable ways of Providence are surprisingly illus-
trated by these events ; and particularly, that after all the
warnings and just causes of suspicion which had been given
him, he refused to Xake any precautions for his safety which
he could have done so easily.
As the discovery and conquest of Peru, the subject of this
work, originated nrom the two captains of whom I have hi-
therto dicoprsed, tho Marquis Don Francisco Pizarro, and
the President Don Diego de Almagro j it sfen^s proper to
attempt giving their portraitures, with some uccount of their
manners and qualifications, imitating in this the example of
Plutarch { who, after giving the lives and heroic actions of
two great commanders, institutes a comparison between them,
shewing bow for tliey resembled and dinered from each other.
We have already said all that could be learnt respecting their
parentage. They were both personally brave and daring,
patient of labour, of hale and robust constitutions, and ex-
ceedingly friendly, being always ready to do good offices to
every one without consideration of expence. In their incli-
nations and manner of life they very much resembled each
0ther, as neither of them were married, though Almagro at-
;,Rined to seventy-five years of age and the mnrqnis to sixty-
viiwMi'^ ■ five.
W
460
Qmguai qfPeru fabt ii. book it.
fiva Both loved wiur i but Almagro, when not tlnit emplogfi-
«d( willingly devoted himself to the management of hii fnri*
vate affiun. They were both advanced in lite when they un-
dertook the discovery and conquest of Peru, in which they
both encountered greri fatigues, a« has be«i formeriy men-
tioned I but the marquifet more specially was exposed to great
dangers, far beyond those of the president, who remained
long at Panama providing all necessaries lor the success of
the enterpri^M, while thtt marquis wa» actually engaged in the
discovery and conquest of the greater part of the country.
Both had sreat souls, continually occupied in vast designs
and splenmd cnterpriies i yet both were of gentle and conci-
liatorv manners, ajKl of easy access to their tbllowent. They
were ooth liberal and generous in tbeir gifts i yet the presi-
dent loved to have his liberalities known and published to the
world } while the marquis carefully concealed his gifts, .and
exprcMed uneasines>s whoi they were known or bhuted a-
broad ) being more anxious to serve the necessities of those
to whom he made them, than to make an ostentatious dkpUf
of his munificence. One example of this is wordiy of being
mentioned. He learnt that one of his soldiers had lost a
horse, on which occasion he went to a tennis-court beton^ng
to his house, expecting to meet the sddier in that place, car-
rying with him an inuot of gold often pounds weiflht, which
he meant to present him with. Not Snding Uie soldier tliere,
he cngnged in a match at tennis wir taking off his coat,
as he did not wish the ingot shouk- no(iiCQid« whi<^ was
concealed below bu waistcoat He remained there above
three hours, when at length the soldier made his appearance.
The marquis then took him aside and gave him the gold,
sayinff that he would ratJ>^t^r have given nun ihrlce as much
than have been oUiged tu carry that heavy wei^ so long.
Many other examples might be given of the secret libera^
lities of the marquis, who gave all his presents with his own
hand that they might not be known. On diis account, Al-
masro was always considered as more liberal, as his gifts were
made in on ostentatious manner. They may be considered,
however, as perfectly equal in their liberality and munificence i
for, as the marquis used to acknowledge that all came from
their common funds, being partners and associates in every
thing derived from their joint discovery and conquest, the
half of all that was given by one belonged to the other, so
that he who consented to or participate in the present, was
^ equally
OlAV. VI. 8SCT. f . igf FirancucQ fiwarr:
eqoalhr gencroai with the Actual donor. Besidety in pltMf
thot tMjr both deiervkl the praise of MberaBtTi they were
both during their lhre«. prodi||[ii>uily rich in ready money and
vast revenues, beyond any person or prince not sotvreigll^
ivbo had been kns>wn ibr many ages i yet both died iopo<M^'
that no mcmion if made of the treasures or estates len by
them ) M> that hardly at their deaths Was there sufficient ttT'
(Isfray the expenccs df their funeroAs } resembling in that w^
speet Cato and 8ylla and some other famii^us llmans, wh»<
were buried at the public charge. '^
Both were exceedingly kind to their servants and depen*i'
dentsv whom on d^l occasions' they delighted to enrich and
a4vauoe^ and to reeeue from^iAaitgen. In*this last particttlar
the mar^s <mrried hik^ltoncicnM even to excess, as appean
by the ibllowing irortaitce. In^aiMnga river cidled the BoM'
ranca, one of hulndiad: servants^ or the Yonaconas. tilbeV'
was carried away by the strength of the current, on which
the maiiquk plunged into the stream and swam after- himjT
cntehiiig him b^lhe hair, and saved- him at the Imminent
hazard of hi^ oWj^life, in so rapid a current that the bravest
and moet vigonouft' man in his army dunt hardly have made
the oittehnpu When hk officers bnamed him for his rashness'
in thus expor'ig his life,* he'itiiswesed that none of thetti Imew
how to value a faith Ail servabt. The nkarquis' enjoy^ the
ftuthoi^ity of flovenior mudi tonger in< tranquillity than AlmaM4
groi whot though ' he harcHy enjoyed that authority at tXii
was mom ambitious, and ivinced a more ardent d^ire of
eixMvistiig commland. ' Bo^ affected simplicity in dreei»'
keeping to theraitie faehion in their old age which they had
been aocustomed to in their ^utb. In particular, the triar-
quis nsed ordinarily to wear a close coat of Mack cloth, the
wide diirts of whieh came down almost to his ankles, while
the body bid a very diort waist and was closdy fitted to hi*
shape. His shoes were of white leather, with a white or grey
hflt, and a plain sword and dagger in the old fiishion. Somt^«
times on (bsthrals, by the entreaty of his serrantiT, he wore A
robo of fine fur which had been sent him by the Marquis del
Vallo { but immediacelv on his return frcnn church he put it
offv remaining in his vxvk or a plain jacket, with a napkin
hanging from his nedt to wipe away sweat, as he nsuidly
passed m6st of the diTf when in peace in playing at bowls or
tennisw^ ' ^(i"---M
k,Q<pdi Pin^no and Ahnagro were exceeding^ patient of la*
tiu. bout
\\
Mt
'Cottquesi qf FtiM vakt lu lutox iti
I
ri
f
iKmr and fiiti|^«, and could submit better than moat men tov
hunger and thirat and other priTations; but eipecialfy thdt
Qacquit, who wa» so vigorous that few young men wiere aU* 1
to compete with him in hi« old days at atthktic sports. The
marquis in general was more addicted to pkqr.than Almagro,'
iiMomuch that he often i>pent whole dajm in playinir at bowlsj j
with any mie that oflPaved, whethier marhier or mUler was alii
one ; and he never aUowed any man to li(k his bowl for hiiii;.
or to use any oeremonv, whatever in respect to Us rank. He
was so fond of play, that few tJSSnH w«^re«f kiSeientia^porw
tanoe to induce' him to give oner; ei^ially wlici» fios&lg.
But when informetiof.any insurrection amdng. the Indjans^'
he would instantly la^ eveiw thii|p asidei|i immediately braoin|^;
on his armour and seisingWWoe and: tair^, would hasted'
to the place where the noHanf had risen, without waiting^ for '
his peq>le, who felloiwed hi^ with all ei^piedition.
BiHh the marquis and the prendent were so brave and so/
expefiepoed in the manner of making war with the Indians,!
tbat eithef of them alone would never hesittfe wh^ on hbirsev>
back and aimed ta charge thrpugh a hundred Indians. Bothri
were exUssmely intellig«at, sensible, .aiid judicious, and could;
take di#«r ^Measures both in civil and military ii£Giirs with great*
promptitude and propriety^ yet both were so extremdy IHl*
terate that neither of AheftH could read 6r wi'ite, or even:sign
theiv names ; which assuredly was a great defect, and exceed*
ingty Inconvenient in carrying oti tho important affiurs in.
which they were concerned ; sind although they ita every other
respect appeared like persons oS high birth, and darted
then^selves like noblemen with much dignity and propriety^
yet their entire ignorance of fetters was an evident d^monstr**^
tion of the meanness of their birth. The marquis placed im«
plicit confidence in his servants and friends, insomuch that in
all his di^Mtches and orders relative to the government, and
in the asswnments of lands and Indians, he onlv made two
lines with &e pen, between which Antonio Picado his secrttn!
tary wrote his name, Francisco Pizarro. As Ovid said of ;
Romulus, respecting astronomy, we may say cf Pizarro that:
he was more learned in the art of war than in the sciences/
and iq|>plied himself more to know how to atcliieve gkNrioua
conquests than to acquire literature. Both were ocoeeding-
ly amble and familiar with the colonists, making them fir»»
quent visits, and they readily accepted invitations to dinnear
n-om any One I yet both were extremely moderate, in t$^g
aiM(* f I* f*cv< ▼« ^ ^fmciuo fmrro.
40»
and dirinkinff «. and both refrained fnm amorous connectioft.
witli Spaniith woraen^ on the |Mrindple that to intrigue with
the wives or daughters of their counti vnien was both pnyudi*
cial. and dishonourable to their neigabcurs. Almagro waa
the most continent in regard to the Peruvian women,(aii w«
know of no. offidrs of his gallantry in that country^ liia only
spn beinff born of an Intuan woman of Panama, fikit Uie
marouis had more than one attachment in Peru, havjps Uvied,
publidkly with a sister of Atahualpa, by whom he had a son
named Don Oonzalo who died at fourteen years <^ age, and
a daughter named Donna Francisca. Bv another Indian
woman of Cuzco he had a bon named Don Francisco '.
Both Pixarro and Almagro received high rewards from his
majesty for their signal servicrs; the .former being created a
maiquis, with the authority of governor of New Castille, and
die order of St «bgo. AJmagro was rewarded with the govern*
ment of New Toledo, with the title of Pk^esident or Lord
Lieutenant of that country. The marquis always evinced the
highest respect for his majesty, the utmost fed for ^ser-
vice, and the most perfect obedience for his orders ; insomuch
that he would often refrain from doing many things which
were evidait]|||Within the scope of his authori^, lest he should
appear to ovlrttep the bounds of his commission. Frequent-
ly, when sitting in tlie meeting>houses where the gold and
silver was assessed for the royal fifth, he would rise from his
chair to pick up the small pieces which started from the
scissurs ; observing .that if the hands failed on such occa-
sions^ a loyal subject ought to use his mouth to serve Ithe
king. As these two great men resembled each other in many
things during their Hvei^, so in their deaths they were alike
unfortunate : the president being put to deadi bylthe brother
of the marquia, and the marquis slain by the son of the pre- ;
sident. Mc;
iThe inarquis was exceedingly anxious Ux the improvement
of the country, giving every encouragement to the cultivation
of the soil, and the establishment ot colonies of Spaniards in
different phces. He bqilt for himself a fine house or palace
•h
6 According to GaRiIasvo, the anarquis bad only one ion and one dangli-
ter, Don Francisco being the ton of his brother Gonialo. Don Gonzaio>
the only son of the marmiis, was bom of a daughtCT of Atahualpa, not a m-
ter, named Angdina. Donna Francisca was the marquises daughter byi
Ynes Huayllu Nusta« a daughter of the Inca Huana Capac, whose Chris-
tian name was Donna Beatrix.— £.
'
I
mi^
CmtfueU ^fem mrt n. Mox n«
in th« city of Lini«« tiklliAd two ihiioii oomtfiieltd oii tfatf
river to, drive milin for Stvsttj^pljrt emplojriM mveli of Hiir
leiioiviii Miperinteildii^ the workmen, and initructin|; ^he'
how he wiRbeotbe works to be eoerried oa. iit WM'
mniieulMrly (UliMAt in procuring the erection of • grMt and
nVKUome (ohwcn in Lima, and monasteries for the Ddmini-
cmU wM (he order of Mercy ) both of whom he endowed
vHth > a9)f)e estates id' latedi Mod Indians^
iiUSi ,.-i!K »'
•^t
),,
» s.
,1 hAm%-> ^i'Hl/:-f^€fc[APTER VII.
ti
»;K
!ii
>
V/'
:'/ 1
COMTtHUATIok OP TilS EAULT HISTORY OF PERU, AmR THii
' DEATH OF FRAilCiKO FHEARROy TO THE DEFEAl^ OV OOlf*^
iBAlttO)PIXARRO« AND THE RE-BSTi»LISHKElfT OF TRANQUIL^
UTT' iir THE codMnnri WRrrriN bt AUoOstiiro karate 'J
tt?'.tw.' .-,:.■ . Section I.
l^rom lft« rromi/ ^ M; critwif turn in Peru, i&ntt^e ifihtr
^ adudnistnUion of Vaea de Catfro, theJSrst governor appoint'^
edfrom SpitiM.
if
iTii:
AFTER Don Di^go had made himself master of the xitf of
Lima, he deprived the magistrates of all their insignia
of command, but which he immediately returned to them,
with aiders to execute their official duties in his nune and
anlhorit^. He then ordered the Doctor Velasq'iea, who had
been, dufef justice or adekntado under the marotiitj Siid Ai»*>
tonio Picado who had been his secretary, to be taken into
ctutody *. In the next place he apjpointed Juan T^o, Fran-
, ■ • ' CISCO'
■: • ■ .r i?!.-.
t Thh rhaptwr ia merdy. a coBtiRutian of the Uttoiy of t&e dtteeviryi'
an4 conquest of Peru, by Zante : but we have thought proper to divide it
nil this manner, tt^irv ng the tranuctiom which took place duriiw the life
of Fraqcisce Fizarro, from those which occurred after hit fleath.-^£.
° t // Usjtfnnare, are the words of the French translator : prtmlre may ,
paesibly be an error pf the press on this occasion for peHdre ; in which case
thoie ofScers of the late marquis were ordered to be hm^di and indeed
they do not appear in the seqnel.fE.
,\
oii thtf
I ef Miii'
ing ^he
www
refttaad
cttki.^, feciF. i: ^ i^^Miflflb* fliik»T«.
m
raRTHE^
AAATS '.
^ if the
9
a ■■■ •
josignui
b them*
smie and
who had
iiidA»*>
ken into
0) Frtm-
o divide it
ng the life
Mrhicb caae
nd indettl
■ 'if'' '. ■',
4dic6 de Cftav^ >; iad 6he Sb(fe|i^t6 W iSl»b&ii of fib fiMd|ii;
On tbb tew n/f t\& ifivolati^, tfl^e' mK VftM6oiMb ^
dflhrmcfabd blt^hMb of tfie <ioiiii^ litefi^ td^ e^
thenuiihrei underflie batmen iMf Dbh IXc^i M fidMii <ilf ^
tic^pddi^ in the |>kindCT tf the^rjg^s of Flzm«, ihd 61
being etaUed to live Uceiitiouaty whho^t labour. Td eiOAjM
him to pay hfa tro6b«, Don Diii^ seised iUt Alffi 6f tb^ nir^
cibiu iti^tals belonging to the ^tmn, lind XitiiM pimtwi/m'^
the properties of thote who had b^ miRJMMicrdi, and the Ki^
vennet of all the absentees. ^ in a vely short thnii^ fKs^Mtei
and divisions arose among those who hiid takiin psort wlA
Don Diego, as the leaders df the ihalcohteUt piu^ aU6ag
them wei« anxioiis to oskassihaiie Jiian de Herralda, bedm
evei7 thihff was done and directed by hliMt Dbtl .Diie^ hiiv4
ing onfy the name of daptain senentl. %hiM he in fidet eter^
cised the whole authority. IV ijntenUoh df thebe InAI^-
tents being discovered, several of theni Were j^t to <feiith iii
seditious people { among whom was FraiiciikK> d^ CS^iVll^
who was put to die rack add aftehrards hkngikl as a riii|^ldad-
er of th» new omipinu^. Ohe Anfbtllo cte Orihuda likef
wise, who had onlV arrived of laie.l¥dm l^in, Was bineridie^^
having imimidendy miseri^ that thie Ahnagrii^ W^iie tyrailul
and usuhiers.
Deputies or messenger were sent to all the dues iHA )pt6^
vinces of Peru, to ihdiicd the commtindkliU and ma|ristk«(ei
to recognize Dod Dii^ as goVemor, which was d^ne lA
many ptoces out of iTear: But Afonsb de AIVbrsgd6« W^ Wtt
lieutenant governor in the province of C^achajkr r, ordi^r^
the deputies who were sdit fhto hi^ go^niirnnient to i^ ari^til^
ed, dedaring for his majesty in omktiiUbh to Don Dieted,"
whom he denounced laHbeL Heilird^ entburs^ed iik thii
bdld pixiccdia^, because he Was coliilctehi df b^iiiig ^16 to dib'*
foA himsdf with a hundred nieh whotii bib eoijimandi^ hi it
strong ibrtress of his provhice. Which iwi «>rtSfied With ttMbR
ca^e. Don Diego used eveiy eibrt to gain At^r^radd to his
party, by flattering promises andnienisces of boridign'dtiiiitltA'
ihent { but he uniformly rallied, that he Wduld lic^<6r a!^
khowle^ his audidrity WithdiA bn express doUttnktid fhltp
his majesty to diat eiiP(k:t, and that he hoped, by iSie bleSbili|p
VdL. IV. d g df
S Hiere mutt have beta two pendm in P«hi of this nUiMf inil tokita^
ti We haye already leen otk Frittcjsfci) de Chatas killed Mv the lame da/With
the:ouu:qui8.->£.
-■...U:^***-,'. ™,
Cokfpini <f Peru pakt ii. book ii«.
. of God mkI tbt anUtance of ■ the brave men whom he cpm-
^ pMidecIt to rercnge the death of the marquis, and to punuh
thOfAiiiM^pnana tSt their iiijuriout and outrageous conduct,
•nd^ the oonteomt of the royal authority which they had evin«
ced'in thdr whole procedure. Garcia* de Alrarado was
tboreforie sent with a nirce of cavalry and infantry, liaving or*
d«rs to go in the first place to the cities of Smo Miffuef and
TnuuUo, to derive the inhabitants of these two coK»nies of
their arms and horses, and then to march with all his troops
9ffiitut Alonso de Alvarado. Garcias went accordingly by
pea to the port of Jauta, about fifteen leagues from TruxiUo,
where he found CuptBon Alonso de Cabrera, who had fled
thither with all the inhabitants of Guanuco , to join thepeo<
pie of Truxillo against the usunmtion of Don JDiego. Gar-
cias made Cabrera and some other of bis companions prison-
ers I and on his arrival at San Miguel he cut off his head,
and likewise put to death Francisco de Vozmudiana, and
Hernando de Villeffas.
When the deputies or messengers of Don Diego arrived at
Cuico jwith ordc^ to recognize him as governor general of
Pern, viegp de Silva and Francisco de Carvajal were the
chief magistrates of that citjr. These officers, together with
the other magistrates and counsellors forming the CabiUo,
were anwilliiw to submit to his authority, yet durst not de-
dare tiiemsehes openly till they had maturely considered
whether they were possessed of a sufficient ibrce, and had
enough of provisions and warlike stores to defend themselves
in case of being attacked. On purpose therefore to gain
time, they desirol the messengers of Don Diego to return to
their roaster, and to desire him to send them other deputies
with more ample and more resular powers or instructions,
after which they would recognize his authority.. Gomez de
Tordov% who was one of the principal members of the royal
^uncil <^ Cu^co, happened not tone in the city when the
deputiep arriv^id, as he had gone out that day to take the di-
version. (^ ht-wking. The other members sent th^rdbre a
message to jnform him of what was going on, and to desire
his presence and advice. On his return to the city, he met
the messengers of Don Piego, and having learnt the state of
aflbirs, he twisted off the head of an Excellent falcon which he
carried on his fist, saying that fighting must now he followed,
IMOt the sports of the fieldt After a secret consultation with
the r^ of the CabiUo on the proper measures to be pursued
f-rr^- ■ ■ .■ on
■ -.Ml....
fJKAP. vii. SBCT. I. l»/ Francisco Pimrro.
i«7
di-
he
ed,
rith
ued
on
on the prewnt emergeDc^. he left the dty the same iij^t» nod
went to the re<tidence of Ci^ain de CMtfo. ^ yhiey sent iro»,
mediately « message to Pedro Anzureft the lieutenant, of the
prpvince of Charcai, giving him an account of the state ol'
affidn, and he declared hin^self At opoe for the parj^ of Jt^a,
Immediately afterwards Ooraez /de Tordoya mC c^T' inpuf^^
wit of Pedro Alv«rez Holguin, who had lately marched w^t^
above a hundred men to reduce some reyolteid Indians : Oik
coming up with Holguin, Tordpva jimqiediately told hin^ oil
that hfid taken place, earnestly intreatinff him to asiifit thfl[
loyal inhabitants of Cuxco in their just and honourable Vft%&i^r,
tiont, and to assume the command of such ttoops as my^^
be collected for tl^e defence of that ci^ against the usurpatioi^
of Don Diego. To induce him to comnly, Tordqya dedafv,
ed himself ready to become one of his soldiers, and tp give |Ui'
example of implicit obedience to his jconugnandi. I:n>lguin
immediately declared for his majesty, an4 agr^eed to assume
the command. He and Tordoya assembled the in^bitan^.
of the city of Are<)uipa, whom they confirmed in their ioyaJr
ty, and immediately set out for Ciusco with all the forf;e j^ey
could collect On the arrival of Holguin and l^ordoyf nea|r.
Cuzeo, above fifty men who had dec^st^ thfemielv^ ior DoiV
Pi^Q left the city, meaning tPJpin him atli^iai but.tne
royiuists sent de Castro and Ferdinand Bachl(;ao aftjer them
with a party of musqueteers, who came up with and attackeijl;
them diiring the right, apd brought them all back pri«oner>.
to Cuzco.
All the magistrates and coancillors of Cuzco concurred niot
only in the rapointment of Pedro Alvarez Holguin as mili«
tary commandant, but they named him captain ^neral and
governor of aJ|^ X^eru, coming under an oath of obedience to
im in that high capacity till the pleasure of his nu^esty
should be made manifest on the subject : And in tesrimony
of their zealops loyalty, the whole inhabitants of Cuzco <^ui^e
under obliffations to replace all the sums that Holguin might
be under the necessity of taking from the efiecta aujd revenues
belongiujg to the crown for the payment and equipment of his
troops, in case his majesty might not iqaprove and aijow that
expence. Besides this, all the inhabitants of Ciizco, Char>
cas, and Arequipa engaged voluntarily to serve in the war,
and to contribute towanis its expences. Immediately on his
appointment to the supreme power, HolguMi made a pro-
clamation
408 QHtquest of Peru k>AiiT ii. «oKk VI.
danuitioii of Krar aotinit IXm Dfego ai a rebel, and in a riiort
thne atiaemhled a %ree oF 150 cavalry, 100 muMndtoers and
100 pikemen. But leaminff that Don Diego had taore than
800 fnen under ami, he did not coneider himeelf powerfbl
«nouffh to iMdt Ibr him ih Cucoo, deemtn{r it more pnidcttt to
march from thence hv way ofthemountfun road, on puipoM'
to Joiii foitei irith Alonto de ANarado, who had dccUured for
hit mi^etQr. Holguin Ifltewiac tOipitlteA to Ite joineil ttnon
Ae march tnr teferal of the fViends and lervantt of the mte
ttarOon, who hild (xjncealed tfaennelfca from the i^f^ of
Ae Ahntigriatts in Afferent parti of the inoantain miOii
of Ihim. In i>ur«tifMniee of this plan, HdgUin let Obion
hh march ftath CtHeco, haring appointed Oomte de Toidova
Mb ihaestre de caMbo or major general, OiarcllMBO de la Vc-
ffk *WAd Pt&n Ammrec (ii^infi of hort^, Nunno db Cas-
tro and H<»rttandb de Bachicao tiipvains of foot, and Martin
de Rdblrt as ^iisi^ to ttiny the royal standard. On leshr-
fttt Cu2^, all who ifcn unfit for active service in the field
^t|in« jhift hclHnd, and proper officers «^i^ appoihted for
miiMfahilii^ 'the 'goV^rilident and to distribcAe justice.
''.'Xh i^H^ing Hi^iie of all these events which had taken
(ITdde M CUiBto, ahd'Aat Holgtlin had marched from thence
idth his trobpft, Don lliego jfadged that Holguin wvukl en*
dbivour to' forin a ji^tktiOn idriA Alohtode Akarado who
^ciiHmdndtid'ih Clktfdiapbyas, and would therefore proceed by
Mbniqunbdn ixkd towards the horth ; he resolved therefore
lb march' in SUOT a direction al misht enable him to inters-
oept Ho^in before his junction M^tb Alonzo de Ahrarado, •
But did hot thihk it prudent to attempt this ftefore the arri-
IfS^ of the fbtte under Garclaa de AlVarado^ whmtt he had re-
caledfrbm theorjgiDally concert^ expedition against Ak>nao
Hi Ahrarado ^. While passing throu|^ ThudUb, levying men
and ^flnhiiSttg ahn« and horses, Qt/raaM proposed to have iiit-
tackfd Alon^ d^ Ahrarado, hat was resisted by the inhubi-
IsilVto df a towb ih the MWinoe of Ghedmpoyiis named he-
ifMtO, and receiving his ordiers Of retal fh>m Don Diego he
i^Khi^iithed his dMgh, and niafcheU fai ad hastb for Cima.
Ilnincxfiatdy^ifbsr the return of Gareias, Don Diego b^gan
his march i^aihst Holg.ain, with a force of itOO horse, 100
nnisqjueteers,
4 Tbh dker wm AdMr to tire Mttonan of die 8ain» name.— E^}
A ]t was^aow theyesr ifiiStf^rE.
GHAV. Til. tBCT. I. fty Broneitco Piutwro,
««•
miuqueteen, and 150 pikemtn ; but before hia departim, be
hwMAwi the cbiidran of the late marquiH and of Oonsato
Plnnro from the oountry, and executed Antoiiio Plcado,
bating previontJy pat him to the lertare to codeanwr to ex-
tort canfeawon Iram him as to any hidden treasure belonging
to themar^is.
<*. As during the civil dinentions in Peru, all intercourse
with Spain was sutpemled, the detail of the exiraordinaiy
transaotions thrre between the marquis and the elder Alma-
Ijro, already recounted, did not soon reach the court *. Un-
lortonately for the victorioMS faction, the first intelligence
was brought thither by some of Almagro's oflloers, who left
the oountry on the ruin of their cause ; and they related
what had hawened with every circumtttance uii&vourablu to
Pisarro and hia brothers. Iheir ambition, their fafeach of
the roost solenm engagements, their violence and cruk^i/,
were painted with all the malignity and eui^;etation of party
hatred. Ferdinand Pitarro, who arrived noon after, and i^k
peered at court with great splendour, endeavoured to efiaoe
the impression which their accusations had made, and to jus-
tify his brother and himself by representing Almagro as the
aggressor. The emperor aiid his miniittem, though thejr
could not prtmounce which of the contending factions wai
most crimual, clearly discerned the fatal tendency of thcur
dissentions. It was obvious, that while the leaders entrusted
with the conduct of two in&nt colonial, employed the arma
which should have been turned against the common enemy
in destroying one another, all attention to the public good
must cease, and there was reason to dread that the Indians
might improve the advantage which the disunion of the
ii^paniards presented to them, and extirpate both the victors
and the vanquished. But the evil wax more apparent than
the remechr. Where the information which had been received
was so detective and suspicious, and the scene of action so re-
mole, it was almost impossible to chalk out the fine of conduct
that ought to be followed ; and before any plan that shoidd be
qqproved of in %>ain could be carried into execution, the si-
tuatioo
6 As.Zarate uttraducet Vaca de Caitro into the history of Peru with-
out any previoni notice of his a|>pointmentj it has been deemed proper to
give a short account of his commission firom Robertsons History oi Ameri-
ca, n. 33^, whKb, bdng too long for a note, is distinguished in the text by
inverted coBBmas>—E. ..f
liT*
Con^st of Peru part f i. boor n«
tuation of the parties, and the circumstances of affairs, might
alter lo entirely as to render its eHects extremely pernicious, i. -
■■ ** Notbihff therefore remained but to send a person to
Peru, vested with extensive and discretionary powers ; who,
f^fter viewing deliberately the posture of affairs with his own
eyes, and inquiring on the spot into the conduct of the dif*
terent leaders, should be authorised to establish the govern-
ment in that form which liie deemed most conducive to the
interest of the parent state and the welfare of the colony.
The man selected in 15S9 for thib important charae was
Christoval Vaca de Castro, a judge in the court of royal
audience at Valladolid ; and his abilities, integrity, and firm-
ness, justified the choice. His instructions, though ample,
were not such as to tetter him in his operations. Accoitiing
to the different aspect of atlairs, he had pcwer to take upon
him different characters. If he found the governodr still alive,
he was only to assume the title of judge, to maintain the ap-
pearance of acting in concert with him, and to guard against
giving any just cause of offence to a man who had merited so
ighly of his country. But, if Pizarro were dead, he was en-
trusted with a commission that he might then produce, by
which ho was appointed his successor in the government of
Peru. This attention to Pizarro, however, seems to have
'flowed rather from dread of his power, than from any appro-
bation of his measures ; for at the very time that the court
■eemed so solicitous not to irritate him, his brother Ferdi-
nand was arrested at Madrid, and confined to a prison where
he remained above twenty years ^.
" Vaca de Castro, who left Spain in 1540, was driven by
stress of weather in 1541, after a long and disastrous voynge,
into a small harbour in the province of Popayan ; and pro-
ceeding from thence by land, after a journey no less difficult
than tedious, he reariied Quito. In his way he xeceived ac-
counts of Pizarro's death, and of the events which followed
upon it, as already mentioned. He immediately produced
his commission appointing him governor of Peru, with the
same privileges and authority which had been enjoyed by Pi-
zarro ; and his jurisdiction was acknowledged without hesita-
tion by Benalcazar, adeluntado or lieutenant general for the
emperor
7 The remainder of the circumstances relative to de Castro, here quoted,
are to be found in Robertson II> 353. ; the other events in the history ei
Peru having been already given from Zarate.—£.
CHAi*. vif. sxcr. I. by Francisco Pimrro^
471
emperor la Popayan, and b^ Pedro de Puelles, who had the
tsommand of the troom left m Quito in the absence of Oon^
zalo Pizarro. Vaca ae Castro not only assumed the supreme
authority, but shewed that he possessed the talents which the
exercise of it at that juncture required. By his influence
&nd address, he soon assembled such a body of troo^ as not
only set him above all fear of being exposed to any insult
fh>m the advei^e party, but enabled him to advance froiil
Quito with the dignity that became his character. By dis^i
patching persons of confidence to the different settlements ia
Per^, with a formal notification of his arrival and of hik
commission, he communicated to his countrymen the royal
pleasure with respect to the government of the country. By
private emissaries, he excit^ such officers as had discovered
their disapprobation of Almagro's proceedings, to manifest
their duly to their sovereign by supporting the person honour*
ed with his commission. Those measures were productive of
great effects. Encouraged by the iqiproach of the new
governor, or prepared by his machinations, the layeX were
confirmed in tneir principles, and avowed them with greater
boldness; the timid ventured to declare their sentiments;
the neutral and wavering, finding it'necessary to choose a side,
began to lean to that which now appeared to be the safest, as
well as the most just V
Don Diego had hardly got two leagues from Lima, in
1542, when secrel orders arrived th^e from Vaca de Castro,
addrMsed to F. Thomas de San Martin, provincial of the
Dominicans, and Francisco de Barrionuevo, to whom hfi
committed the direction of public afiairs till his own arrival.
By these persons, the cabildo of the city was secretly assein^
bled in the Dominican convent, to whom these orders were
communicated, and who immediatelv recognized Vaca de
Castro as governor, and Oeronimo de Aliaga, his principal
secretary, as adelantado or lieutenant governor of Peru. Im*
mediately upon this formal act of recognition, the members
of the cabUdo and several of the principal citizens fled to
Truxillo, fearing the resentment of the Almagrians. Al-
though all this had passed in secret, it was communicated on
the same night to Don Diego, who was disposed in conse*>
quence to have returned with the intention of^ giving up the
city to plunder; but he was afraid lest by delay Holguin
might
a We now return to the narrative of Zarate.— E.
472
Cwquettqf Peru
PAKT II. Bpo K If,
might eta^ into the ujorth of Peru* and lest by retwrnjlM^
llw a^rind of the new flovernor miglb^ come to die )uio«fIea|^
of his troops. He qeterinined uierefore to continuf hw
Bunrdi against Holgwin with all qqpsdition. In i^ite of all
Ids priecautions, intblligence of the vniyal of the new go-
vernor reacfcued his c^mp* on which mtc^ pervons abandon-
ed him secret^, particttlai'Iy t^ proYindal of the Dominicaiuit
IKcffo de Aguero* Jnim de Saav^a, VUen Suarez d/^ Our-
nyu the anmnissfUy* iMid Gomez de Alrarado.
I. Akhoug^ every consideration prompted Don Diego to nse
the utmost cBUoence in ^e present posture of aSmrf, he was
linder die idjwwte necessity of marching slowly, as Juan d?
fferrada his lawt fri^d and adviser M sick of a mortal
distemper. Owing to ditis delay, HoWin was enabled to get
beyond the valley of jauia in his marcp towards tlie province
of Chach^poyas. Yet Don Diego fpilpwied after him with so
much diligence that he veiry nearly got up with him. In this
emergency, as Holguin wfs by no me^^ in sufficient force
to ventur^ a battle wMh Don Diego, he put the followii:^
stratagem in p^f tice to enable him to es<»pC| which <^eo-
tually succeeded. During thje night he detached twen^
horsemen to make an attack on the advanced guard of the
en^y, with orders to take some pri^ners if possible, and
then to retire. They executed their orders successfully an4
inade tltrcc prisoners, two of whom Hplnuh ordered to be
immediately hanged, and offered life and liberty with a oon-
-siderable reward in monj^ to the third, if he would carry in-
•fdnnation to certain persons in the army of Don Diego, w!(io
Jbe pretended were di^ioscd to join him, thai( he inteniled to
attack the right wing of the camp in the ensuing ni^ht, that
'they might be ready to assist him. |lc even administered an
•oath to this soldier th^t he would religiously, ke^ tne secret
finoin tvery one but those to whom he was directed to carry
the message. Being a youns man and desirous of procuring
the promised large reward, be readi^ undertook the com-
mission, and returned to Uie camp of Don Dicga When
Don Diego understood that this mafi had come back, ^d
that his two companions were haD|;ed by Holguin, he sifs-
pected that mer<^ had been shewn him on some private con-
ditions ; for which reason he ordered the soldier to be put to
the torture, who immediately avowe^ all Uiat had been con-
fided to him. By this means, Don Diego was led to believe
that Holguin actually intended to surprise him by night, and
.^•■•"^'eTf.x." "ft «•■
CUAW' T«i. SECT. I. bjf Francisco Pixarro,
47S
ft
I'
took effectual measures to receive bira, placing the motets
pfTt Cjf bis troops under arms oil nigtit on that sid^ which tht
apldjer nientioned as the part where Hoiguin was to attack*
Thf intentions of Hdgiiin were diametrically of^site t9
this story which he had put in the mouth <n the so)di^
meaniqe'on^ to^ain time for a secure retreat ; so that im-
mediatdy after diapatching the soldier, he decamped, in the
middle of the night, marohinj|p with all possible cdlerity to
get ius army into a place of safety, while Don Diego uselessly
Kept his army under arms in expectation of being attacked*
When Don Diego discovered the trick which had been
in^osed on Iiim* he resumed the pursuit of Hoiguin with m
much celerity as he could : But Hoiguin had sent a quick
messenger to Alonso de Alvarado, requesting him to hasten
to his assistance, which Alvarado did without delay with aU
his own Uroops . and several of the inhabitants of Truxiiiou
On the junction of these officers a few days afterwards,
Don Pieffo discontinued the pursuit, and returned towards
Cuzoo. Holguhi and Alvarado sent off immediately to ix>
ibrm Voca de Postro by letter of all the preceding events,
and counsdled him to aidvanoe without dday to join them«
*as they were in sufficient force to make bim master of the
country when strengthened by his authority. At this Ume
Juan de Herrada expired at Jauja, and Don Diego de-
tached a part of his army to the low country of Peru to
colkct those of his party who were at Arcquipa and other
places. His olQcers plundered the city of Arcquipa, and dug
up every where about the monastery of the Dominicans in
seardi of treasure, as they were informed that the inhabit-
ants of that city had concealed their valuable effects in that
convent*
Vaca de Castro had reached Peru with much difficulty and
fiitiffue. The yoy?ge from Panama was exceedingly tedious
anatanpestuous, and the vessel in which he sailed lost all its
anchor^ Having at last reached the harbour of Buenaven-
tura at the bottom of the bay of Choco on the coast of Rfr-
poso, he went froin thence oy land to the frontiers of the
government of ]3enalca2ar, who commanded in Popayan,
and thence to Peru. He suffered much hardship and fatigue
in that journey, both from the length and difficulty of the
way and the scarcity of provisions, so that he fell sick as
bping quite unused to such fatigues. Yet as the death of the
marquis at\d the subsequent events were already known iv
. ; ■. -^ .. Popayan,
I
■iS*^
Conquest of Peru jpart ii^ book it.
Popayan, ite Castro continued his joarney with as littb deby
as possible, that he might endeavour by his presence tb
remedy the disorders of the country. Although Vaca de
CSastro had been sent to Peru ostensibly to investigate into
and take cognizance of the death of Almagro, and of the
subsequent transactions, without any order to deprive the
marquis of the government, or even to suspend his authority ;
vet he had been furnislied with a secret commissicm, by which
he was authorized to assume the government, in case the
marquis should die during his voyage, or after tiis arrival,
and to exercise all the functions of tnat high oflkc^ till the
emperor might give; orders to the contrary. By the authority
of tliis commission, he was received in the camp of Holguin
and Alvarado as governor. He was accompanied thither by
several persons who had joined him on his first arrival in Peru,
particularly by Captain Lorenzo de Aldana, who had been
lieutenant governor of Quito under the marquis. He sent
before him Captain Pedro de Puelles, to make preparations
for carrying on the war. He sent likewise Gomez de Royas
to Cuzco, with drders to the magistrates and inhabitants of
that city to receive him as lieutenant. Royas used so much
diligence and address that he arrived at Cuzco and was re-
ceived and acknowledged in the command of that place before
Don Diego could reach it with his army.
When Vaca de Castro passed through the province of
Bracamoras on his woy from Quito to Truxillo, Ceptaih
Pedro de Vergara, who was then occupied in reducing that
province, and had even fortified himself in a strong post on
purpose to defend himself against Don Diego, joined him
with all his men. At Truxillo the new governor was joined
by Gomez de Tordoya, who had quitted the camp in conse>
quence of a dispute with Holguin. He was joined likewise
at Truxillo by Garcilasso de la Vega and some other^gentle-
men. By all these means, when Vaca de Castro left Truxillo
to repair to the ctunp of Holguin and Alvarado, he had
alrei^Jy collected a well armed force of more than two hun-
dretl men, all ready tb obey his orders. Immediately on his
arrival at the camp, Holguin and Alvarado received him with
every demonstration of joy, giving up to him their standards
and all other marks of authority ; all of which he restored,
except the royal standard, which he retained for himself.
Having appointed Holguin to the command of the army, as
maestre de campo general, he ordered him to march forwards
a to
QHAP. VII. 8SCT. 1. by Franeisco Pixarro,
475
to Jauja, and to wait there till he himself inight return from
Lima» where he proposed going that he inight establish its
government in proper order, and on purpose to collvct men,
arms and ammunition. He gave orders to Holguin, that
Captain Diego de Royas should always precede i the army
about twenty leagues, with a detachment of thirty horsemen,
to gain intelligence of the niotiona of the enemy. At the
bame time he sent back Diego dc Mora to Truxillo, to take
the command in that city. Du Castro thus took every proper
precaution for the successful issue of his expeditirai, with as
much prudent foresight us if he hud been all his life enured to
warlike afiairs.
When Don Diego found that Holguin had escaped from
his pursuit, as formerly related, he went to Cuzco with his
army, where Christoval de Sotelo, whom he had detached
there before him, had already taken possession of the city,
and had displaced the magistrates who had been established
there under the authority of the new governor. Immediately
on the arrival of Don Diego at Cuzco, he made every exer-
tion to provide artillery and gunpowder for the fardier pro«
secution of the war. })oth of these warlike articles are easily
made in Peru. As to artillery, there is abundance of metal
for that pur{)ose, and there were also several persons in Cuzco
who were perfectly well acquainted with the manner of found-
ing cannon ; These were Levantines or Greeks, several of
whom had come to Peru out of respect for Pedro de Candia,
who was master of the ordnance to Don Diego. Powder was
likewise easily made in great abundance, as saltpetre is to be
had in every part of that country of excellent quality. At
the same time he had defensive armour made for those of his
people who were in want, forming corslets and helmets of
silver mixed with copper, which answered amazingly well,
and, were made by the native artists, who fabricated every
kind of arms in imitation of, and as good as those of Milan,
fiy these means, and by collecting all the arms throughout
the whole countrv, every one of his men was at least provid-
ed with a coat o^ mail, a cuirass or corselet, and a helmet '.
In this nuuiner Don Diego was enabled to equip two hundred
musqueteers,
. 9 Garcilasso says, that on this occasion, the Inca Manca Cnpic, who
.had retired to the mountainst in remembrance of the friendship which had
subsisited between him and the elder Almagro, provided Don Diego wkh
large quantities of armour* swords and saddles, which had been formerly
taken from the Spaniards, sufficient to arm two hundred men. — K.
fl
%
#
476
Conquest of Petit
FART II. BOOK If.
muaqueteen, and to establish several companies of men at
arms, as hitherto in Peru, hardly any thing had been seen of
thfU kind, the cavalry being all nglit horse except a very few.
While these preparations were going on, an unfortunate
ouarrel arose between the captains (xarcias de Alvarado and
Christoval de Sotclo, in which they drew their swords and
Sotelo was slain. As both of these captains were principtd
leaders in the Alraogrian party, and Iwd nianv friends and
partisans in the army, this unfortunate affiur occasioned
much strife, and hod nearly occasioned a battle between the
friends of the two combatants; but Don Diego appeased
them with some difficulty, and by using a great dfeal of
address. But as Garcias de Alvarado plainly perceived that
Don Diego took the death of Sotelo much to heart, whom
he dearlv loved, and feared lest he might take measures after-
wards of revco j|e, he endeavoured to take precautions in the
meantime for his own safety, and for this purpose proposed
to have assassinated Don Diego. With this view he one day
invi^ Don Diego to dinner, intending to have put him to
dea^h^ during the entertainment. Don Diego accepted the
invitation, but wlien the appointed day came, having some
auspicion of what was intended, he sent an excuse for his
absen'ce, on pretence of being indisposed. As Garcias had
provided every thing for the execution of his design, he went
with several of his friends to endeavour to prevail on Don
Di^o to come to the entertainment. While on his way, he
met a soldier named Martin Carillo who advised him to stay
awav from the house of Don Diego, who he was fully per-
suaded intended to put him to death. He continued his
purpose however, and received a similar advice from another
soloier a little farther on. Yet he persisted in going to the
house of Don Diego, and even went up to his cnamber,
where he found him on a day-bed under pretence of beine
unwell. This visit seemed to be expected, as Don Diego had
several armed men concealed in a neighbouring room.
Garcias de Alvarado and his followers went into the
chamber of Don Diego, to whom Alvarado said ; ** 1 hope,
my lord, that your indisposition is of little importance. You
must rise and shake it off, and you will be the better of some
exercise and amusement. Come along with us, and though
yon eat little, your presence will give pleasure to the company
who expect you." X>on Diego agreed to go, and called for
his cloaik, being already armed with his aword and dafK^r.
While
tiiAP. VII. 8£cT. I. btf Frandsn Pharro,
4ni
;s
"WkUe the compm^ in the room made way by going out, and
Oarciat de Alvarado went immediately before Don Di^go*
Pedro de Onnate and Mversl othen who were instmctedy
diut the door, and seising on Garciai told him he was their
prisoner. Don Di^ drew his sword, with whidi 'hie wound-
ed Gardas, saying that he must be slain, not taken prisoners
and immediately Jnan BaUa, Alfonso de Saavedra, Diego
Mendez the brother of Rodrigo Orgogncz, and several others
who were concealed in the next room, rushed out and put
Alvarado to death with many woundf.
On the news of this event spreading through the city, it
occasioned much diMatisfaction and some appearances of an
insurrectaon wiiich might have had very fatal consequences i
but Don Diego went immediately out into the ffreat square^
where he succeeded in appeasing the people, and the friends
of Alvarado were forced to be quiet. Immediately after this»
on purpose to give employment to his trcops, and because he
heard that Vaca de Castro had joined Holguin and Alotiso
Alvarado, he marched out from Cuzco, meaning to seek out
and ^ve battle to the royalists. His army on this occasion
was uie most numerous and best appointed that had hitherftf
boen seen in Peru, consisting of 250 horse, 200 musqueteers,
and 350 pikemen, many of these being armed with nalberts,
and all remarkably well provided with defensive armour, es-
pecially aU his cavalry, who, besides coats of mail, had back
and breast-pieces of iron. Besides these, he had a areat train
of artillery, and was accompanied by Paul, the brouer of the
Inca who had been raised to the Peruvian thrOpe by the
elder Almagro. The assistance of this chief was of great im-
portance to Don Diego on the present occasion, as his In-
dians always went a considerable way before the army, and
obliged the natives of all the districts through whicli they
passed to supply provisions for the troops, and to fiimish
ale for carrj'mg the baggage and other necessary services,
is manner Don Diego proceeded for about filly leaeues to
the province of Vilcas, wnere he learnt that the royal army
was only thirty leagues distant from him.
While Vaca de Castro was in Lima, he procured a num-
ber of musquets to be made by the workmen of that dty, and
made every other preparation in his power to st^^ngthcn his
armyi Among other things, as Don Diego had carried off
the whole royiu treasure, he borrowed a large sum from the
inhllbitants of Lima, for the pay of his troops and other ex-
M^5-W^
ponces
II
478
Conquest ofPera fast ii. booe ii.
pencca of the war ; and all things being regulated, he set onC
to join the army with as many men as he could collect* leaving
jFVancisco de Barrionuevo as his lieutenant in Lima» and
Juan Perez do Guevara as commandant of his marine. He
directed his march for Jauja, leaving orders with the inhabi-
tants of Lima to retire on board the ships, in case Don
Diego, as he threatened, should make an attack upon the
city. On his arrival at Jauja, where Holguin and the army
waited for him, he found that the general had provided good
store of arms both oilensive and defensive, and particulariv a
large supply of gunpowder which hnd been made at that
place. The governor incorporated the horsemen whom lie
brought along with him from Lima among the troops or
companies of cavalry already in the army, which were com*'
'nanded by the Captains Pedro Alvarez Holguin, Pedro An-
zurcz, and Garciiaaso de la Vega, and formed an additional
troop of horse of which he gave the command to Ck>mez de
Alvarado. Those foot soldiers which he brought with him
were distribute^ into the companies of Pedro de Vergara and
Nunno de Castro, and he formed a new company of mus-
queteers, of which he appointed the bachelor Juan Velez de
Guevara captain. Akboueh a man of letters and educated
in the study of the law, Cnievara was an excellent soldier,
and particularly attentive to discipline, and had even greatly
assisted in the construction of the musquets with which his
company was armed. Being likewise very learned in the
law, he executed a judicial charge at the same time with his
military command, both on the present occasion under Vaca
de Castro, and during the subsequent troubles produced by
(jionj^alo Pi^rro, as will be aflerwards related. Every day
till npoq, he held his judicial sittings and dispatched such
afikirs of that kind as occurred, in the ordinary sober
dress of a lawyer. Afler that, he dressed in richly embroi-
dered uniforms, with a buff jerkin, a feather in his hat, and
his musquet on his shoulder, exercising his company with
much attention, and practised himself in firing.
Having drawn together a well armed force of seven hun-
dretl men, 370 of whom were cavalry, 170 musqueteers, and
160 nrmed with pikes, Vaca dc Castro appointed captain
^rancisco de Carvajal scrjcant major '° of his army; the
:i:
^M' 10 The rank of Serjeant major in
swer to our adjutant, a> applied to
same
the Spanish service appears tb an-
a battalion : On the present occasion
Carvajal
CUAP* Tilt uccT. I. by Francisco Pixarro.
479
ith
■ion
same penon who was afterwards maettre de campo aeneral
under Oonzalo Picarro. Carvi^al was an officer oF great
experience, having served 'above forty years in the armVf and
was bret! in the wars of Italy under the great captaiUf, having
risen y^ that service from the ranks to a lieutenancy. By
him ^1 the movements of the army were directed. , ^
About this time a incssa^e was received by Vaca de Castro
from Gonzalo Pizarro, who hod just returned to Quito from
his disastrous expedition to Los Canelos, formerly related.
Gonzalo made oner to the governor to march to his assis-
tance with all the troops he could raise ; but de Castro, in
answer, after thanking him for his good will, desired him to
jemain at Quito and on no account to come to the army, as
he had hope of bringing Don Diego to terms of accommoda-
tion, being only desirous of restoring the country to peace.
In this proceduref the governor meant in some measure to
mortify the pride of Gonzalo Pizarro; and l)e8ides, he feared
Ifst his natural desire of taking revenge for the murder of his
brother misht prove an invincible obstacle agcinst Don
Diego ogreemg to any accommodation, who would never vcn*
.ture to submit to any one who was accoinpHnied by Gonzalo
Pizarro, whose friends in the royal army were very nume-
rous. Some persons allege that Vaca dc Castro was afraid
of permitting Gomcalo to ioin the army, lest they might elect
him as their general, as he was greatly beloved by the sol-
diers. At this tim,e, likewise, Vaca de Castro sent orders to
those persons who'^ad the cjiai^e of the childroi of Uie late
marquis in San Miguel and l^uxillo, to remain with theni
there.till farther orders, and on no account to carrjiheta to
Xama;^ alibiing, as a specious pretext^ that they were safer
there Uian at Lima,
. All his military preparations being completed, Vaca de
Castio lefl; Jauja with his army in excellent order, taking the
route for Guamanga* as he was informed that Don Diego was
in full march to take possession of that city, or to take post
at a very important passage of a river in that neighbourhood,
which would give great advantage in the future operations
of the war to either party which might obtain possession of
that post, as Guamanga was surrounded by precipitous rocks
and deep vallies, servipg as natural fortifications of extreme-
[ ^ '■'':■ . ^
Carvajal may be considered as adjutant p;eneral under Vaca de Castrq.
Maestre dc Campo seems equivalent to Major- General.— E.
\
I
t\^
Conquest tfPeru pakt ii. B6ok ii.
I
h
tdiflfcttlt Mttw. Cftptain Dieoo de RoyM, who Kas been
'meriy nftentioned m commanding the udvonced guard oi'
IhenTAl army, had already occupied the city of Gtiamantfa {
ind on receiving intelligence ot tlie rapid march of Don
Dfe^ to that place, had fortified himself there as strongly as
BMsible, that be might be able to defend it till the arrival of
Ibe army ilinder Vaca de Castro. The governor, thcrufore,
Hdttrched with as much celerity as possible, sending on Cap>
fain de Castro with bis company of musquetecrs to take potit
m a craggy hill of difficult ascent near Ouamanga, called Far-
CM by thePeruvians and Parcos by the Spaniards. Vnca dc
Castro, on his arrival one evening within two lei^cs of
Gnamanga, received information Uiat Don Diego was al-
teady in possession of that city, - which disappointed him
Eeatly, more especially as tbe whole of his own troops were
t yet come up. Alonso de Aivarado was sent back there-
ftre, to expedite their march, and to bring tltcna on in good
order, as the enemy was so near. Some of the rear-guard of
' ttke army roar(cl^ed that day above five lung leiuucs, which
Hrw a most &tiguing exertion, as the road wa^ mil of rocks
Imd ste^ paasesj and they were under the heceisify of cany-
|hg their arms and accoutrements. Having passed the city,
tibe whole army stood to their arms all night, not having any
icconite intelligence of the enemy, who was believed to bo
I^gh. Next day, however, learning by thiedr scouts, who had
Bteft above six leagues hi advance, that the enemy was still at
a contddtfrtible distance, the royalistii encamped to take some
' Receiving more certain infi>nnat3on of the situation of the
enemy, who wcire still at the distance of nine leagues iirbm his
■:' camp, Vaca de Castro sent a letter to Don Diego by Francts-
ieo Ydiltqaez, commanding him in his majesty's name to dis>
Iniss His amly, and to repair to the royal standard, on doing
which he shoidd be pardoned for all that was past: But, if he
' refiis^, hte might expect to be proceeded i^nst with the
utmost sevoity, as a rebel against the king, llie governor
sent likewise a private soldier who was well acquainted with
the country, diguised as an Indian, cartying fetters foir se-
irerfl] gentlemen In the rebel army, offering thun an amnesty
and bilge rewards if they would abetndon Don Diego.
Though this man took every precaution to prevent discovery,
his track was noticed, in some places in the snow, and he was
ibllowed and carried prisoner to Don Diego, who ordered
him
tmAJPk Til. wcT. I. ^ Ftemciaeo Pi%§rr9.
«tl
him to be hanged. Don Diego oomplained loadlT of Va^ de
Outro for iending ipiet tockmrupt hk fblbwen while making
offer* of acooiniiMdstibn i end d#*#ing ont bis army in cpmy
piflle order befiire the govemors meMcngers* he ordered «U hie
officera to prepare fprutde^ promising that whoerei killed
way of the hostile inhaUtante of the country* shdnld bf i%
warded with the wife, landH, Indians, and wealth of theslain^
He then gave an answer to the governors messiwei that hf
ifottld never acknowledge or obey him so long as ne was assor
ciated with his enemies, Pedro Alvares Holguin, AkHBSo de
Alyarado, Qdmez de Tordoya, Juan de Saavednk, 0arcUa«l9
delaV^a, YUenSuaresde Carv^al, Oomezde AWavado,
and others of that party. That he wouU never disband )m
army, unless he received a Ibrmid amnesty under the royal
won manual } as he tould not give foith to one. signed by tbp
CArdinid de Loavsa. That de Castro was much mistaken u
ssfiposing any of his army would abandon him, and might
therefore prepare for battle, as he was determined to d^ebd
the country to his last breath."
Oa receiving this resolute answer, Vaea de Castro matchr
«d his army to a small distance from Guamanga, where the
ground was too rpueh ahd uneven for his cavavy, and took
mp a position in a smooth plain named Chupazy where he re*
mained three days, during all which time it never ceaeed
raining, as it w!as thto the middle of wintier, yet the troops
were forced to be always undo' arms and ready for action, at
the enen^ was vei'y near. He had resolved to givie battle^
AS the enmy obstinately refiued all accommodatiiui i yet find-
ing that several persons in his army seemed to hesitate (m aci>
count of the disapprobation which his mqes^ had; evinced
respecting ^e formbr batde of Salincu, on whidh account
Ferdinand Pizarro was detained in prison, he judged it pr»*
per to take some formal judicial steps, both for his own justir
ncation, and to satisfy the scruples of his troops. He pror
bounced therefore a formal stotence against Don IMf^gf^
whom he declared a traitor and rebd, condemning him and
ail his adheroits to death and the confiscation o( ;aU their
igbods. AfW signing this judicial sentence in the presence
of the whole Wmy, he commanded the officers to give him
asistance for canrying it into execution.
Next mroning, bemg Saturday, the scouts brought intelli-
gence after mass that me enemy, wiio had encamped for the
liight at two short: leagues distance, was very near, and in
VOL. iv; H h fiill
vl
>r.
♦H
GoNjfMMl ^ Pern f ABT n. book tu-
1^
fall nuirch towtrcU the left of the rojalbt ccmpt odvandng
by MMne low hilb to avoid • munli which iMwered Um front
of the rojdkti. Don Di^go widied to gain poneMion of
OuMnanga before giving battle, and entertained no doubt of
being viotoriooi, tniatina to hi* great ii^wriority in artillery
over the royaliit army* when die two armies were lo near
that the advanced guards were within musket shot, the gover-s
nor detached detain Castro with fiftv musqueteers to skir-i
mish with the enemy, while the rest of his troops marched nt;
the slope of a hill on purpose to intercept the march of ni
rebels* This movement was liable to consideraUe danger, ts
Don Dieso might have done the royalists much dr '"tfre by
means of his artillery If he had takeii advantage of tV'- iture
of the ground in proper time ; for during thiv couvei !ion, the
royalist in&ntry were often obliged to hale '.o recover their
order, which was much deran^ by the difficultv of the
ground. When Carvajal the seijeant-major observed this cir»
eumstance, he ordered all the troopsto gain the height as quick*
ly as pouible without preserving any precise order of march,
and to form again when they were arrived at the summit.
They accordluffy oot all up, while Captain Castro and hii
musqueteers wore wirmishingwith the troops of Don Diego i
who likewise c<»tinued his march, and drew up in order of
battle.
After tlie royal army had been marshalled in good order
by the scijeant-roajor, the governor made them ja qpeech, in
which he exhorteil them to recollect that thev were loyal
Spaniards who were fighting ih the just cause of their sover
reign. He told them that me hie of Peru was now in their
hands and depended on their courage. If defeated he and
ther could only expect to be put to death ; but if victorious,
besides the important service to the king, which they were
bound as good and loyal subjects to perform, they would
thereby secure the possession ot tbdr estates and effects, and
to such as had nonp he would p. •-. 3' .Kn^ ]y in the name and
by the authciUy of his raajestVs vv^t ;.. < 7 orsired 1 .serve
die sovereignty of Peru, that h. ' : <. u.>:\de It among thoae
who served iiim fidthftilly. In conclusion, he said there needed
not a long harangue to encourage gentlemen of honour and
brave soldiers to do their duty, wmtse example he proposed
to himself to follow, not pretending to give them one; yet,
as a proof that he meant to imitate their bravery, he intendr
p^ %p mrch a( their bead and should be among the first to
• ■•; ^ '■ . . , " „ .\ u., :. . break
lOUV. Tii. Bxcr. hjf Prandwt Pixarro,
483
yet»
endr
bt to
break
braak % knee. They nli cicchred that th«y would do thclf^
duty manfiillyt and would rather be cut to pieces than allow
thenMhrcfl to be defeated, at they all considi^red thentselvef
intereatad in the sacoeit uf the war on their own accounts,
aa weO aa from dutv to the king. All the officers earnestly
intreated Vaca de Castro not to hq^eard himsdif in the (loot of!
battle, insisting that he should take post in the reai with thirty!
horsemen, whence ho might send succour to wherever it migtit
be needed. He consented to this, and as the (lay drew to*
wards a dose, being within an hour and a halt' o^ sunset, he'
proposed to postpone the battle till neKt nioruing. But
Alonio de Alvarodo assured him that he would be deteated it
he delayed, as the whole army seemed then animated by the.
best resolution, and it was impossible to say ^bether some
might not change their sentiments during the night. The
governor assented to this advice, only saymg ti; itne wl|)hcd
to have the power which had been given to Joshua, that ^<^
miffht stop the going down of the sun.
At this time the artillery belonging to Bon Diego opened ttf
fire upon the royalists ; ond as it was dangerous to uesceud the,
hill in front towards the enemy, on account of being too much!
exposed in that direction to their guns, the serjeant-mojor an^
Alonso Aivarado directed the army to movie by the leil, Where,
there was a hollow which led towards the enemy, by which^
they wcreprotected from the balls which all flew 'over ttieir
heads. Tne troops marched in the following order. \Ioh2^
de Aivarado was on the right with his troops of horse, having'
the royal standard carried by Christovalde Barientos { on the
left were the other four captains of horse, Podro Uolguin|,
Gomes Aivarado, Oarcilasso de la Vega, and Pedro Anzurez,
all at the head of their respective tr^ps in excellent ctler.^
Between the two wings of cavalry, the Captains Pedro dc Ver^j
gara and Juan Vclez de Guevara marched with the infantry}'
and Nunno de Castro inarched in front with his musquetcers
to b^n the battle, with orders to retire when pressca by the
enemy under the protection of the main body. 'Hie governor, '
at the earnest entreaty of his officers, remained in the rear
ffuard at the head of thirty horse, at ^ome short distance
from the main body, where ne could see all that occurred ^ so
OS to send assistance where it was wanted, whicl) he did with
mudi judgment
During the advance of the royalists, the enemy kept up a
constant fire of their artillery, but altogether inencctually, as
aii
484
Conquesi of Peru fart ii. book lu
all their ba)ls flew too high. Don Diem) obsenring this cir*
cumstance^ suspected that Pedro de Candia the captain of
his artillery was gained by the enemy and did this on pur-
pose i for which reason he went to him in great rage < and
Killed him with his own hand. After this hel pointed and
fired. o£r one of the cannon again!>t a squadron of the ifoyalistSt
hj whidi shot several of the troopers were killed. Seeing
this, and considering that the aitillery of the royal army
was too insigni^cant to do much service, Cwtyal determin-
ed to leave it behind that the army might advance more
quickly. At this time Don Diego and his officers had ar-
ranged their army in order, the cavalry divided on the tw6
wings, and the infantry in the centre, having their cannon in
front, directly over against the only ground by which the
royalists could advance to the attack. The r^ls believed it
would ar^e timidity in them thus to wait for the enemy,
and that it was proper for them to advance and meet them
half way, This movement was much against the opinion
and advice of Pedro Suarez, serjeant-major to Don Diego, a
brave and exoerienced officer ) who remonstrated that, as
the ^nemy had to advance over a plain of considerable ex-
tent> they would be greatly injured by the artillery before
U)ey cpuld come to the charge, whereas by advancing the
troppp, of pon Diego would shorten this dangerous way for
their enemies, and would lose an excellent, advantage now in
their poweV. Nothwithstanding this judicious remonstrance
the Almagrian army continued to advance, and took post
near a rising ground over which the royalists had to march,
and after whiot the rebel artillery could do them very little
harm, and was unable to prevent them from charging, as the
v^ay between was very short. Suarez was so much dbsatis-
iied at hii> advice being thus despised, that he set spurs to his
horde and galfoped over to the royalist army.
About this time the Indians under the command of Pauitu
the brother of In(:a Manco Capac, attacked the left wing of
the roytUists with repeated vollies of stones and arrows, but
were !>ppn put to flight by a tew discharges ft-om the musque-
teers. Martin Cote who commanded a company of musque^
teers on the side of Almagro, advanced to that side and began
to skirmish with the adverse mu>queteers of Nunno de Castro*
At this time the royalists, advancing sluwly and in good order
to the music of their drums and trumpets, made their appear-
^ce on the height, where they halted as waiting an oppor-r
tunity
^At. vltt A'tcY. I. 6jf Prancisco ^itaitOi 4SI
tunity to charge, in hopes that the incessant discharge from
the i^rtiliery of the enemy might relax. Although now so
near, the rebel artillery did them very .little harm, as having
to point upwards, moht of their balls flew too high, whereas
if the royalists had advanced only twenty paces rarther, they
would have been exposed to point blank shot. The infantry
indeed of the royalists suflPered materially at this time, as they
were more directly exposed to the shot, insomuch that by
one ball a whole file of seventeen men was brousht down.
This made a wide gap in the battalion, which the officers
took care immediately to fill up. The seijeantpmnjor, Fran-
cisco de Carvajal, stul held back the royalist cavalry from the
charge, waiting for some relaxation in the fury of the adverse
artillery, by which the captains Pedro Alvarez Holguin and
Gomez de fordoya were both slain, and several others were
killed and wounded bv every discharge. Captain Pedro de
Vergara being wounded by a musket shot, exclaimed loudly
against the conduct of the cavalry, saying that all the infantry
would be speedily destroyed if the cavalry did not charge the
enemy. The trumpets immediately sounded a charge, and
the royalist s(}padrons advanced, on which those of Don
Dieffo moved forward to meet them courageously, llie
shade was so violent that almost all the lances on both sides
were broken, and many horsemen of both armies were borne
to the ground, some killed and others wounded. A bloody
engagement succeeded this charge, in which they fought man
to man with swords, maces and battle axes j some even of the
cavalry being armed with large woodmens axes which they
wielded in both bands, gave such heavy blows as no armour
could withstand. After continuing the battle with great fiiry
till both sides were out of breath, they drew off for a little.
In the meantime the royalist infantry advanced against
those of Don Dieeo, encouraged by the exhortations and
example of Carvajal who marched at their head. ** Be not
afraid, said he, of the artillery : I, who am as large as any
two of you, do not fear it, and vou all see how many bullets
pass by without hurting me." That his soldiers might not
conceive that he confioed in the goodness of his armour, he
threw away his coat of mail and helmet, and advanced in this
manner to the rebel cannon { and being bravely seconded
by his men, he soon got possession of them all, killing several
of those who guarded them, after which he turned them
against tlic enemy. By tliis vigorous and successful exploit*
>■.; ■ th«
'««»••
*?p
Congest of Peru part ii. ik>ok ii.
tlic event of the battle was in 4 great measure decided. The
<Aay was now ended, and the evening became so dark that
the opponents could hardly distinguish each other except by
the voice. Atler a sht>rt rest, the cavalry renewed the fight,
and victory began to lean to the side of the royalists, \tacn
Vaca de Castro made a furious assault on the lefl of the
tnemy, where two troops belonging to Don Diego stiU kept
their ground, while all the rest Iiegan to fall back. On
charging the enemy, the governor exclaimed, Vittoria ! Fit"
toria! Yet the battle continued undecided for some time,
and several of the horsemen who followed Vaca de Castro
were wounded and unhorscil, two gentlemen and several
others being slain. The rebels were at last thrown into dis-
order and fled from the field, being pursued for some distance.
Two of their officers, named Bilboa and de Sosa, were so
enraged on seeing the deteat and flight of their' companions,
that they rushed like madmen into the thickest of the enemy,
cnring out / am he •vcho killed the marquis, till both were slain.
Many of the Almagrians saved tliemselves by favour of the
darkness ; and some of them, for greater security, threw
away their 'sbhtte scarfs, by which the rebels were distinguish-
ed, and put on the red scarfs of the royalists n^o lay dead on
the field. Thus Vaca de Castro obtained a complete victory,
although before the charge was given his army lost many
more men than the enemy, insomuch that Don Diego thought
himself till then secure ot conquering- Such of the fugitives
as endeavoured to save themselves by way of the plain were
All killed by the Indians ; and a hundred and fifty horse, who
made their escape to Guamanffa, about two leagues from the
field of l)attle, were disarmed and made prisoners by the
small number of inhabitants who remained in that citv. Don
Diego fled to Cuzco, where Rodrigo de Salazar, nis own
lieutenant, and Antonio Ruyz de Guevara, one of the ma-
gistrates made him prisoner. Thus ended the authority of
Don Diego Almagro, who one day was lord and master of
the great kingdom of Peru, ana the next day was thrown
into prison by officers of his own appointment This deci-
sive battle' of Chupaz was fought on the 16th September 1542,
A great part of the night was over before their officers
could reassemble the victorious army, as the soldiers were
busied in pillaging the tents of the rebels, where thev cot a
rich plunder in silver and gold, and killed sevefaf of the
wounded fugitives who were unable to continue their flight
^•,V.;''-
tHAI^. ?ii. SKCr. Ii
Franciseo Pixarro*
48t
iuiy farther. When all w6re rtia>gembled» Vaca de Castro
made the army remain all the rest of the night under arms
and in order of battle* lest the enemy might rally and renew
the fight. Vaca de Castro Employed himself likewise during
most part of the night in ^oing about among the troops,
praising the whole* in general, and thanking the individusi
soldiers for having so bravely done their duty* In this battle
several officers and soldiers on both sides signalized th^selves
lr«narkably. Don Piego distinguished himself particuhurly,
shewing much courage, and more cmiduct than could have
been expected from a young man only twenty*two years of
age ' '. He was animated by what he considered a just ven-
geance for the death of his father ; and was well seconded by
many of his followers* Many of those on the side of Vaca die
Castro, were on the contrary incited by the desire of aveng-
ing the death of the marquis, for whose memory they pre-
served an inviolable attachmqpt, insomuch that no dan^ei^
could prevent them from using dieir utmost efforts to punish
his murderers. On the two sides, about 300 men were
slain ", among whom were several officers and men of note*
Pedro Alvares,Holguin and Gomea de Tordoya eminently
distinguished themselves on the side of the royalists, having
mantles of white velvet richly embroidered over their armour,
owing to which they were particdarly marked out by the
muaqueteem oTthe enemy, and both lost their Uves in coiue-^
quence. AlcAiso de Alvarado and Carv^al likewise distin-
guished themselves signally, particularly the latter, as already
mientioned, in a manner that it seemed almost impossible he
should have escaped. But by despising death, he M^ieared
to have made it flee from him j as mdeed it dlen naj^ns
during great dangers, that those who meet them bravely are
preserved, while those who shrink are lost. A signal instanced
of this happened in the present battle, as a young man who
was afraid of the balls concealed himself behind a prqiecting
ro^i where his head was shattered to pieces by a ^linter
driven
1 1 Oarcitasso, himself a ihest^e, says ttiat Doli DicgO wai the bravest
Mettizoi or son of a Spaniard by aa Indian wdman, that eVer the New
World ph>ductfd.--E.
12 Abcurding to Garcilasso, of l/too combatsnti^ intltidiiig both side*,
SCO men were slain, and about an equal number wounded ; the rapliit*
having 500 killed and 400 woilnded, while the rebels had only soo slain
and 100 wounded. In this estimate he has surdy made a material error,
as he makes the killed and wounded of t^e royalists e^ual to the whole
iV>iQber they had in the field.— E.
\ 1
:(
i
}
^~f ■■■.■": ...4«
^UtkO'-l
WB •'tStmquett^ Peru rAKT ii. mok tfir
driven o^by s cannon ball ' '. Many others signaKzed thatflK
seitel in the battle* to most of whom the governor gave conu>
petetkt estirtes in lands and Indians, when he made the re*
partition of the ODiHitry, adding his warm acknowledgement*
for having resigned their individual interests and resentments'
itt the service of the crown< -
The night after the battle was extremely frosty, and as ilic
baggage was considerably in the rear, only two of the wound-
ed oflwers had their wounds dressed, so that a good many of
the wounded died of cold during the night. Next morning,
she governor caused every attention to be given to the wound-^
ed, #ho exceeded four Itundred in number '% and had the
dead buried, ordering the bodies of Holguin and Tordoya to
be carried to the city of Ouamanga, where they were magni>-
ficently interred* On the day succeeding the battle, the go^
vemor ordered the heads of several prisoners to be cutoff,
who had been concerned in the murder of the marquis. Next
day he w^nt to Guamanga, where Captain Diego de Royas
hfld already beheaded Juan Tello atid some other captains of
the rebds. The governor now gave orders to the licentiate
de la Oama to try the rest of the prisoners, and to punish
them accMding to their deserts. De la Game accordingly
hanged severaTand beheaded others, to the number of forty
of ue most culpable, insomuch that in all about sixty were
executed. Some others were banished, and the rest were
pardoned, such of them as had settlements being allowed to
return to their houses.
Hie governor went afterwards to Cozoo, where he brought
Don Diego to trial, and ordered him to be beheaded. Diego
de Mendez, Gomez Perez, and another, made their escape
from prison into the mountains of the Andes, where they
were kindly recdved by Mauco Capac the fugitive Inca, who
had taken reftige in on inaccessible country. The Inca was
much grieved on learning the death of Don Diego, whom he
wns greatly attached to, and to whom he had sent several
coats of mail, corselets, cuirasses, and other arms, which he
Iiad taken from the Spaniards whom he defeated and slew» at
the
1 3 At thU place, a naked list of a great number of names of thote who
signali^ied themselvet in the battle, are enumerated by Zarate, but omitted
here as altogether uninteresting. — ^E.
14 This appears to countenance the account of Garcilasso !n a former
imte, who probably quoted from Zarate ; but the latter does not limit ihia.
number to the royal troops. — £.
11 - w'sS \J,t ttiiBii
iHaJ
otiAi*; i^lt.- teirr^ it % J^'ancitco Pikarro*
did ttnr^ when he i««nt by order of the marquin 'to Tdie?t
Gonzdo and Joan Pizarro, then besieoed in Ctuoo; •
■ After the death df l)on Diego and rae entire dispersion of
his adherents, by which peace was restored through the
whole cotmtry, the goremor did not consider it proper to
disband his army, as he had not sufficient funds to reward
them according to their services ( for which reason he re«
solved to send them in different detachments to moke disco*
veries and conquests. Captain Verffara and his troops were
accordinsly sent back to complete the conquest of the Brao»>
moras. Tne Captains Diego de Royas and Philip Gutierez
were sent with above three hundred men to the eastwards,
where they tiflerwards made some estal^ishments on the Rio
de la Plata. Captain Monroy was s<»it to Chili with rein-
forcements to Pajro de Valdivia, who was engaged in redu-
cing that country. Captain Juan Perez de Guevara was sent
to reduce the country of Mullobamba which he had discover-
ed. This is an exceedingly mountainous country, in which
the two groat rivers Marannon and La Plata have their
sources, both of which run into the Atlantic. Its inhabitants
are Caribs, or canibals, and their country so hot thftt they
go entirely naked, or at least have only a tew rags round
their loins. While in this country, Juan Perez got notice of
an extensive province beyond the mountains towards the
^lorth, in which there are rich gold mines, and which has
Cameb and fowls like those of New i^in, and a qiecies of
sheep considerably smaller than thritie of Peru. In that
country it is necessary to water all kinds of seeds regularly,
as it seldom rains. In it there is a lake, the environs of
which are exceedingly populous. In all its rivers there are
certain /f^fj as large as dogs, which they likewise very much
resemble, which kul and eat the Indians when they go into
the Water ^r even pass near it, as they often come out of the
water and walk on the dry land". This great country is
bounded on the north by the Marannon, on the east by Bra-
sil, and on the south by the Rio de la Plata ; and it is said
that the Amazons dwell in this country, of whom Orellaua
received intelligence while descending the Marannon.
Vaca de Castro remained above eig^iteen months in Cuzco
-^''■' afier
:
f
IS Obviously a mhunderstood description of alligaiori. Indeed the Whole
account of thi» country, now called Colona, leemi to have been derived
from the reports of Indians, and is in tnany circumstances entirely fabulous,
as is well known from the more recent accounts of the Jesuit missions.— £.
Omgueit ^ Peru i>abt ii. BOQX ii«
after the departure of these variout expeditions, employing
himidf in makinff a distribution of the unoccupied lands and
Indians, and settunff the whole country in gooa order, issuing
likewise many useful regulations for the protection and pre-
servation of the Indians. In that period the richest gold
mine ever heard of in our days was discovered near Cuxco in
a river named Carabajfa, wher«> a single Indian is able to
gathor to the extent of a mark in one day '*. The whole
country beins now perfectly tranquil, and the Indians .pro-
tected from those excessive toils to which they had been sub-
jected during the civil war, Oonzalo Pizarro was permitted to
come to Cuaco, and after a few days went thence to Lm
Charcas, where he empbyed himself in taking care of the
extensive estate which he possessed in that country. He
there remained in quiet, till the arrival of the viceroy, Blasco
Nunnes Vela in Peru, as shall be related in the sequeL
Section II.
Commencement of the Viceroyaliy of Blasco Nunnez Vela, and
renewal of the civil war in Pet-u by the usurpation qf Oon-
zalo Pizarro,
At this period, some of tlic clergy who had been in the
New World, represented to the Emperor Don Carlos and the
lords of his council, that the Spaniards treated the natives in
the conquered provinces of America with extreme cruelty, de-
priving them of all their property by excessive exactions^
Ibrcinff them to labour in the mines and to dive for pearls
beyond their strength, obliging them to carry heavy burdens
in long journeys, and frequently subjecting them to arbitrary
punishments, and even wantonly putting tnem to death ; iiw
somuch that their numbers were fast diminishing, and that
in a short time they would be entirely extirpated from Mexico,
and Peru and the other continental dominions of &)ain in
America, as was already the case in tlie islands of Cuba,
Hispaniola, Porto Rico, Jamaica, and others, where hardly
any trace remained of die original inhabitants. To confirm
these
16 Ovabaya is an elevated vaUey of considerable extent, to the south east
•f Cuzco. A mark of gold or eight ounces is worth about L. 38 ; hence we
au/ readily believe to rich a days work was seldom made.— £. .4, ^j,^,)
CHAT. VII. SEC r. II. bjf Francisco Pixarrtf*
4fl
w«
these representations, they particularly recited tnany instanoca
of crueitv exercised by the Spaniards upon the Indians*
among Htiich were numerous circumstances that were by bo
jnoens well authenticated. They alleged as one of the greatent
of these evils, and a principal cause of the desti^ction of the
Indians, that they were forced to carry heavy burdens osi
long journeys, far beyond their strength, without any consi-
deration of justice or humanity. They added that tnese ty-
rannical practices had been carried to the greatest excess by
the governors, lieutenants, and other officers of the cpowo*
and ny the bishops, monks, and otiier favoured and privi-
leged persons, trusting to their authority and immunities to
be exempted from punishment for their improper conduct,
by which they were encouraged to the commission of every
excess. He who insisted in these remonstrances with toe
Greatest zeal and perseverance was Fra Bartholomew de Um
iasos, a Dominican monk, whom his majesty had raised to
the bishopric of Chiapa.
After maturely consid(H:ing tliese representations, his maSesty
was anxious to devise proper means to relieve the Indians
from oppression j and for this purpose he assembled a council
of all those persons to whom the administration of affiiirs ia
the Indies was confided, with several other persons of probitj
learned in the laws. By this assembly the whole afiair waa
deliberately examined, and a code of regulations drawn up by
which it was expected to remedy the wuses complained o£
By these regulations it was enacted that no Indian should be
forced to labour in the mines, or to dive for pearls; that no
excessive labours should be imposed on them, and even that
they should not be obliged to carry burdens exc^ in places
where no other moaiis could be employed j that all Indians
should be paid for their labour, and that the tribute which they
were to pay to thdr masters should be fixed } that upon the
death of any person to whom lands and Indians now belonged,
they were to reyert to tlie crown. Besides, that all lands and
Indians belonging to bishops, monasteries, and hospitals, or
to govemors, lieutenant-governors, or other officers of the
crown, siiould be taken from them and annexed to the crown,
even although the possessor should incline to demit their offices
for the purpose of enabling them to retain their repartitionft.
It was particularly ordered in regard to Peru, that all who
had taken any share in the civil wars between the marquis
and AJmngro should forfeit their lands and Indians. And fi-
nally.
I
\
■•♦a
49S
Conquest of Peru pabt ii. book ii.
ally, all Indians let at liberty by this r»g:ulatioD were to belong
in perpetuity to the crown, to whom tneir tributes were to be
paid in all time coming.
It is perfectly obvious, in consequence ofthe concludingclause
but one of these regulations, by whieh all who had taken any
share in the late civil wars were t:, be deprived of their lands
and Indians, that every individual then m Peru would have
been reduced to poverty, as it may be seen by every circum-
stance related in the foregoing part of this history, that every
Spaniard in the country liad embraced one or oUier of these
Carties with extreme violence. Even the native Peruvians
ad taken a part in the civil discords, and had frequent qaar«
rels and engagements on the subject, some of them taking iMirt
with the Ckitese, and others with the Pachacamacs, by wnidt
titles they distinguished respectively the adherents of Almagro
and of the marquis. Hitherto the only court of justice or
royal audience was held at Panama, at a most inconvenient dis-
tance from Peru. By the new r^ulations this court of Panama
was abolished, and besides the establishment of a new court
on the frontiers of pauatimala and Nicaragua for all the
provinces from TierraFirma northwards, of which the licentiate
Maldonado was made president, another court of royiJ
audience was ordered to be established in Lima, consisting of
four oydors or judges, and a president who was to have the
title ot Viceroy and captain general, lliis measure was deem-
ed indispensibly necessary for the well being of this distant
country, the richest and most valuable dominion which belong-
ed to the crown in all America. All these regulations were en-
acted and published at Madrid in 1542, and copies of them
were immediately sent to different parts of the New World.
These new rcglations gave extreme dissatisfaction to the con-
?uerors ofthe American provinces, and particularly to those of
'eru j as every Spanish settler in that country must have been
deprived by them of almost every thing they possessed, and
reduced to the necessity of looking out for new means of sub-
sistence. Every one loudly declared that his majesty must have
received erroneous information respecting the late events, as
the partizans and adherents both ofthe marquis and of Alma-
gro, had conducted themselves to the best of their judgment
as faithful subjects of his majesty, believing that they acted in
obedience to his orders in what respected the two rival ffover-
nors, who acted in his name and by hb authority, anLlwere
" besides
<xup* Tki* ascr. ii. 6y Franciteo Pixarro,
M
befttdet under the neeeibity of.obeying their offiten, either by
force oir good will* bo that t|i^ were in fact guilty of no
crime in what th^ had done ; or, vtea if their conduct were
in Bome meaeure taulty, they certainly did not deserve to be
stript entirely of their property. Tliey alleged farther, that
when th(7 duoovered and conquered the country, whidi had
been done at thdr own proper co«t, it had been cxpreufy 06^
venanted that they were to enjoy the division of the lands and
Indians among them for uieir lives, with remainder to
their.eldest sons, or to their widows in case of having no chil*
dren ; and that, in confirmation of all this, anbrder had been
issued by his m^esty, by which all who had participated in
making the conquest of Peru were to marry within a certain
specified timei under the pen^ty of losing their lands and
Indians, with which regulation, most of them had complied j
and diat it were now uiyust, when they had beoome old and
worn out, and were encumbered with wives and families, to
deprive them of their substance, when they looked to enjoy
repose after all their fatip^es and dangers ; being unable from
age and infirmity to go in, search of new countries and new
eetabli^ments.
Great numbers of persons rq)aired to Cuzco, where Vaca de
Castro then resided, to lay their complaints before him. He
told them I that he was persuaded his majesty would remedy
their grievances when informed of the true state of aflbirs.
Mid recommended therefore that the procurators or syndics
of the different cities should assemble, and elect a deputation to
carry a true ^tement of matters tn the king and rajral coun-
cil of the Indies, with a humble supplication that hiS majesty
might a[^y a proper remedy, by the revocation or modification
of those regulations, which, as they stood, would produce such
ruinous consequences to the colony. On purpose to facilitate
this assembly^ the governor promised to repair in person to
Lima, as the most convenient and most centrfd situation for
the deputies of all the other cities. He according^ set out
from Cuzco for Lima, accompanied by the syndics of all the
neighbouring cities, and by several gentlemen and other pei>
sons of consequence.
In the year 1543, while these things were going on in Peru,
his majesty ap|>Qinted Blasco Nunnez Vela, who had been
commissary general of the revenue in Castille, as Viceroy of
Peru, and president of the court of roval audience, to carry
those regulations into efiect which we have ahready given an
. tr. „> t^i-'V^. *.*■
accoun
\
r
V
-.fiji.i i-^yn'gwwwww**"'
48*
Conquest qfPem PAST li. BOOK If.
of. Vela WM chosen to AU high and important oAoo
a* a penon of ciqpadty and experience, who wouU di^nse
strict jnitioe without renectof penont, and would punctually
fulfil the roval orders, llie four oydon or pudges nominated
to the roval audience of Lima were the bcentiate Cepeda,
doctor Liaon de Texada, and the licentiates Ahrarez and Pedro
Ortiz. Angustin de Zarate '^, secretai^ of the royal councfl
of Castille, was appointed at the same time auditor general of
accounts both for Peru and the Tierra Firma, a# since the dis-
covery and lettlemoit of these provinces) no accounts of the
royal revenues had ever been rendend to the treasurers. All
these persons embarked at San Locar de Barrameda on the
1st November 154S, and arrived safe at thi harbour of Nom-
bre de Dios, where they made some stay, en purpose to pre-
pare for their voyage to Peru. As the vicerov was eager to
proceed, he embarkoi at Panama in the iniddJe of February
I £49, without waiting for the judges of the royal audience,
who* andoosly renuestal to accompany bim, and who were ac-
coidingly nra« chagrined by this procednrr/. Even before
this, some slight disputes had occurred between them and
Vela, which though of small importance in themselves, had
left some impression of mu(';:<vi dissatisfaction, and evinced
that they were not likely to ngiee in the government of the
counny.
. Befere learingthe Tierra Firma, the viceroy began to carry
one of the .new regulations into effect, by which all Indians
were enioined to be at liberty to return to their native coun-
tries, whatever might have been the cause of their transporta-
tion to other places. He accordingly collected all the natives
of Peru who hi^pened to be in the province of Tierra Fik'ma $
and as there was a great and constant intercourse between that
province and Peru, the number of PiTuvians in Tierra Firma
was cimsiderable, and he ordered all of these to embark in
the same ship with himself at the exp«ice of their masters.
The new viceroy had a quick passage from Panama to (he
port of TumbeK at the northern extremity of pr<^r Peru,
wh^re he disembarked on the 4th of March, being resolved
to go from thence by land to Lima, and immediately proceed-
ed to enforce the new r^^ati(Hi8 in every one of the places
by which he travelled. In regard to some of the colonists, he
fixed the services and tributes which they were in future to
4 exact
17 The author of this hlttory.— £.
CHAr. ni. ncT. ii. &y Brtmciaeo Pizfrro,
exact firom the Indians ; and others he deprived entird^ of
thdr lands and Indians, annexing them to the crown, manj
of those who fiMmd themselves a^mrieved by these resulationsy
particularly all tibe inhabitants ^Sen Miguel mdTruxiOo,
waited on the viceroy, respectfully yet earnestly entreating
that he would at least postpone the execution of those rigotw
ous decrees till the arrival of the judges, when they' would
make their humble application for justice at Lima in the roy-
al court of audience. In corroboration of this request, they
pointed out one of the articles of the regulations, which di-
rected that they were to be put in force oy the viceroy uid
oydmrs conjunctly, and that therefore he was not authorised
to execute them by his single authority. All their remon-
strances and reasonings were unavailing, as he refused to list-
en to them, saying, that the orders with which he was entrust-
ed were general mws, which could not be suspended or even
postponra in compliuice with any requests or supplication!
whatever. He pemsted, therefore, to put the regulations
strictly in force, through the whole extent of his journey from
Tumbez till his arriVal in the province of Guavara ', which ^is
eighteen leagues from Lima.
immediately on his arrival at Tumbez, the viceroy sent an
express to notify his arrival and the extent of his powers and
authority to the governor Vaca de Castro, whom he directed
to discontinue all ecerdse of authority as governor. By this
messenger, and by other persons who tbHowed him, the in-
habitants of Lima were informed of the rigorous manner in
which the viceroy had proceeded to enforce the new regu*
lations, and of his refusal to listen to any supplications or re-
monstrances on the subject. On purpose still more to irri«
tate every one against the viceroy, reports were spread of se-
veral other rigorous proceedings as having been exercised by
him, of which he never even conceived the idea. These news
caused mueh emoticm and' discontent among the persons who
accompanied Vaca de Castro, insomuch that several of them
urged him to refuse recognizing the viceroy, and to protest
both against the regulations and his commission, as he had
rendeied himself unworthy of the government by executing
his commission with extreme rigour, refusing justice to his
majestys
1 Abwit that distance to the north of Lima is the town of Huaurat
which is probably the place indicated in the text> as in many names of places
ip ^eru the initial syllable Cua or H«^, arc interchangeably used by diiTer?
Mt authors.— E.
499 Conquest offttu WAWt ii, yoQK »l»
majertyi fiiiUifal subjeeu* «m] turning a d«ftf «tr to their rev
ipcctfiil remmMUrancek Vacs de Ca«tro soothed them a« n^iipb
as pouible, by assuring them that when the o)iclor« were ar-i
rived and had , begun to act as the rojral court of audioioe^
they would certainly listen to their remonstrances on being
instnicted in the true ttate of the ocMu^tryj but that JTor \mh
lelft he oould in no decree consent to disobey the orders of
his nu^estjr. At this time* Vaca de Castro hud arrived at
Guarachiri, about twenty leagues from Lima, and on receiv-
ing the orders which had Men transmitted to him bv the
viceroy, he immediately divested himself of his office, ana dis*
continued from exercising any of the functions of government )
except that he granted some vacant repartitions of londs and
Indians to different people, some of which granM were in his
own name*
: Finding all their representations to Vaca do Castro ipeffeor
tual, the principal persons who attended him set out in their
jreturQ to Cuzco, under pretence that they dared not to await
the arrival of the viceroy so long as he was alone { but that
they would return to Lima on the arrival of the judges: Yet,
in spite of these specious pretexts, it was easy to see t^at they
wew much discontented and had evil intentions. Indeed they
clearly evinced this soon afterwards oo,, their, arrival at
the city of Guamonga, where they excited a great tumult.
Old took possession of all the artillery which Vaca de Castro
had disposed in that place after his victory over X^n Piego.
They then collected a great nmnber of Indians, and caused
the whole of this train ot artillery to be removed to Cwpco.
Vaca de Castro continued his journey from Guarachiri to
Lima,: which he found all inTolvod in conlusion and ciisconv
tent, the inhabitants being much divided in opinion as to
the expediency of receiving the viceroy or refusing tP recog<p
nize him in that capacity. Some alleged that the orders of
his majesty did not command his recognition till his actual
arrival. Others said that he ought not to be recognized even
on his arrival, consider^g the unjust regulations which he
brought along with him, and the rigour with which he put
them in force, in spite of every remonstrance and supplfcao
tion to the contrary. But by the earnest exhortations of
Yllan Suarez, alcalde or judge of police and royal commissa-
rv of Lima, they came at length to the resolution of receiving
the viceroy, ana even to admit the regulations, which were
published with much solemnity. Upon this cdl the magistrates
uiiAV. Til. f KCT. Ik bp Ihraneisco Puutrro,
4»7
!ind principal inhabitants of the city* went to Huaiini |oiwd<«'
conM the vicei^ ihd to pay hiti their MMpedfiil «tnpli^
mentt. From Huauca h» was aocompaaiad bj ,the whdo o»«<
valoade to Lima, whcr? he waa received with great pomp aadi
maanificence, making bw entry under m- cmapf of; dokb <ii^
gold. All the mogiitnitei wnlkcd in pi<0cei>ion„imitt]|iQg the
ensigns of their officef and dreiMed in loiif robsa of> ciiiMoii,
satin turned np with white damask. InitMs grandaMdJeJilhe
viceroy was conducted in the fir»t pkMtt tp»<^i|i!i^iai|ll <<Wicii
to hi« palace. .'n \vHryt\Mt tw^-Kj oj h'>>tiji •
Next day aa the viceroy hsidtnecdivod it^Baimtdotn of ttho
discontents and soditioiis conduct k>f>thei(p0rsoM< who' had >i<»«
tired to Guzco, he ordered Vaca de CartitolijWarKcjrted aliil
thrown into, the common prison^ laa he sudpecMd thai he had
ibmenkc(| these seditious practices, aUd (hat be had evenbeoi
tlieir secret odviaer to that step* ; AlthoM^ ;the inhabitants
of Lima Were by no means perfeetly> satisfied wiUi^. tha con*
duct of Vaca de CaKtnH the^ yet bnnibly petftioBa^ th« vice«
roy, not to aUow a person of such high wA^mhtf wm H vp«mr
ber of the royal council and had benK gstfitmorni O10 oMuw
try, to be thrown into the ccmmon puMQitj as^, efiwn if
he Imorited the punishihent of death, and t^era to be ibef
headed next day, he oucht to be more hoootti^l()r dealt, with.
The viceroy was softened by these remonatnuices» aM ordered
Vaca do Castro to be piaoed undeii.arrMtMi the palaoe, tak-
iiu; a bull bond from tlie burgesses for his satis cqstndy undef
a heavy penalty j and besides, he placed all the ^ects of , the
Mte governor under sequestration. The inhahitaQtB of %da»
were extremehr discontented by the harsh conduct of th^ mq^
roy, holding freCftiMt secret conferences among thems^vetm
and a consiaenible number of them withdi>em^ifradiudljrfroin
thecitv, repairing to Cuzcc, at which I^llce^tpe.,vi(;iapO|y waa
not acknowledgea. -.Miiviint v'-vnyxft 'i(»
At this time Gotizalo; Piaarro dwelt at. QiuquiBaaft de la
Plata* in the province of las CharoaSi employed, in the ar^
raiu;ement of the estate which had been conferred upon him
by his brother the marmrfsi where ten or twelve of his most
intimate friends resided along with him. On learning the
atriyal cX the viceroys the causes of his missioQ, and the
regulations which he had brought out for the government
of the colony, and which he r^rously enforced, Gonzalo
took the resolution of going to Gizco, under pretence of in-
quiring oSbeit news from l^pun, and to regukte the a£Sars be^
VOL. IV. li longing
I
w
is
Conquett oJFtTU part ii. book i^.'
'■J, \
klighig to hiilbvodier Ferdinand, aocordioff to the instruc-
liiM|» M M rcorived on that rabnect. While employed in
eaUeeUM^sibtaey' lor his joum^, he recdved letters from aQ
;daft» 0f Pera, written both by private penons and the tnagia-
tiratM of the ctties and towns, endeavouring to persuade him
to Atyid Ibrwards fa) defence of the cornmbn intdnests on th^
pMMMit eiiwiigthoy, bv protesting a^nst the execution of the
xo^ biiliiiaMieei, MM oei^ either that their execution
shMddli#dday«dt or that some othw remedy should be in-
terposed to prevent universal ruin among the colonists.
OdniMb w«s oven ui^ged to this interference, as a person to
wIk^ the gt>««mni«nt of the countiy bielonffed of right, as
heir to tiitt xcaettg&A his brother. In some of these letters the
^teM Affered to devote themiehf«s and their fortunes to his
MTviod: Others infonned him that the viceroy had puUickly
dsohtfod he would put Oonaalo to deadi. In this way every
TAeani waii 'itsed tq irritilb Oimzdo, that he might come to
CttiBCo i6 '|M<evelil: ^e cmtty of the viceroy into t&t city. As
tfvwy thfaig[ -fleeAied to conspire towards the accomplishment
,0f t»e detiiifr whkA hf had always cherished, of acquiring die
oofwrmneni of BeJM% ho gathered a huge snmof money* Qolh
man hit own Ihnids and those belonging to hu brother Fer-
^iibd, nnd l«|Mlred to Cotco accompanied by a rednue of
Wimty %M»iaM« \
- The wnole JSpani^ popidatioh of the city went out to meet
l^m^ and received hnn with evei^ demonstration of joy.
£very day ^ditional persons flocked to Cuzco, withdrawing
ftoitt Liroat in ooBsequence of the rigorous conduct of the
-vio^oy, who continually irritated the inhabitants by his
^noin^. Numerous meetings were held in th? town-house
^f Citzco, both of |die Aiagistrates^and the oitixens in general,
to consuH ah to what ought to be theii* conduct iu mei evuit
9f the viceroy arriving at their city. Some proposed that he
«i^r to be reedvOd, and that a depiitatioR should be sent to
-his majeshF, praying him to ^ve rcMef in w^i^ to the rcgn-
tatlons, wUcA woim ruin die oolony unlc» changad or o^-
sidierably itiodified. Others all^nd, if the tiotroy were re-
cmvad) that he was so detenninea on the establishment of the
regulations in thdr entire rigour, diat he would instantly de-
fBfive
e Zsrats k sttssdiagly asfli|mtin regard to dstn. W« lorn Imni
tite Jihiiij of Aawks, 11. 370,ili^(!hf (Ntsnt occamnctttoekplsctm
?^*t»i.-.^
eUAP. VII. sBCT. II. by Francisco Ptxarro.
499
prlve them of all their Indiana ; and that, whatever al^pration
mij^t be aftetiirarda madci it wduld be exoeediogly difficult
to recovtf them. It was at length resolved to elect Gowialo
FiziyrrQ procurator-goiera], and Di^ Centeno» who had
Iteen sent to represent the cit3r of la I%ta, was appointed his
jdepti^. Oonasalo was authorised, in the exercise ^ ihi» new
cffice^ ip lay the remonstrances of the Spanish inhabitants of
Peru, i|i regard to the new rtigulations, before the royal OaMjFt
of Au^^ce ; and at first considerable difference of sentiment
took place in the Mundls of the remonstrants, as to fhe mode
in which he diould proceed to Lima: whether he diould be
accompanied by a body of troops for his defence in case of
need, or should go there merely as a peaceful qies8iE»ger. At
last the former alternative was resolved on, and for the fol-
lowing reasons, in excuse for taking up anus against the vicie"
roy. first, that the viceroy had beat up for voluntews at
Xdma, und^ pretence of chastising tliose who had taken pos-
feessicm of the artillery. Secondly, that the viceroy conduct-
ed himself with the most inflexible rigour in carrying the re-
gulations into effect, without listening to the su{H>)icatio"<i and
remomtrances which had been presented to him, and witliout
waitii^lbr the Arrival of the judges of the royal audience, tQ
whom, not leu dian to himsdf, the authority had be^ coor
.fided for enforcing or suspending the execution of the ref-
lations. Lastly, Qecause the viceroy had been seven! times
heard to declare that he would put Uonzalo to deotb, <m ac-
eoiint of his participation in the late civil war, and in the
(death of Don Dicigo. Some of the remrnistraqts vrcaee dit*
posed to place this measure, of escorting the procurator gene-
ral by an armed &rc^ upon a more moderate pretext, alki^
ing that it was necessary for him to travel through a part of
the country, in his way to Lima, inhere the Inca was in arms,
and that it waa proper in consequience that Oonzak> should
be esudbled to'defend himself from the hostility of the natives.
Ckhers talked more openly, sajring that the viceroy was a
person of an obstinate «id inflexible disposition, who did not
eonfine himself wi^n the bounds of justice and equity, and
uainst whom it was necesxary to haVe some other protection
uan that of the law. Some able persons among Uiem en*
deavoured to place their present conduct in a favourable
l^l^t, by drawing up a kind of maniiesto, in which they en-
deavoured to demonstrate, that there was nothing in their
present conduct which could be considered ns derogatory to
... ■-_ - . ... ,::--- - ,.^ th<'
500
6&nqutU^Peht vavpu* book u\
the reapect whioli was due to thtt royal' authority, oi j«atio«
dHo«r«a every one to repel force by force, and to ikioid
theitiidvei i^iwt iinju»t oppresskMii even resisting liytidcmoe
kmAgti^kii nets ubbwAtJIy, and agttinst the etsentjal fonms
afila«r<iliMlja8tioe.
' It #ii ^naUy detennineci thoreftir?, that Gonzalovliould li^
••body' dtiK^pB, and for this pai-^oie man^ of the inhafajtaiStt
of Giueo vofihred their persbna and properties^ det^Mng thenb^
sdktislveady to: hazard their lives in defence of the ^Xmttidn
cauie. ' ^Beiides the title cf Procuretoivgeneral of Peru, ^f^the
pofpose^off^eseiitingtheifupplicirtions and remonttrancesof
die €<doBistt,Oonaaio was aj^ihted general' bf the anurwhidi
was to defend him against the Inca. 'As is usdal in ludi
mattem, these res^utions were all extended with much fenna-
Kty, to give a iQolour of i?effularity to their proceedings. The
remonsiirants then proceeded to levy an army, for thepeymcBt
oiTwhieh they lodk possession of the royal treasure, and availed
themselves m the property belonging to deceased colonists and
some other funds, under pretence of a loan. After l3ds captiuii
FhifK:isco> d^^ Almcndras was detached with some tiodpa to
take poaseisioii ik ihe defiles of the mountains, on pmrposti to
plwvenO any inlelligenoe of their {xrooeedinm being copivdyed
to lAkuti In thism^asure, they w«ie aided inr Paufiq, biuwer
to the Inca, who guarded oU the paates ookhis side by'ineaniB
of his Peruvians, t6 prevent any one from carrying intdligmcc
t» the low country.
''^'> The Cabildo or council of Cuzco sent lettos to the CabiMo
of la' Plata, representing the prodigbus- ivgurieS' whldi wodid
accrue t6 ail the colonists from the excoutioii of the pbsi<biiou8
TttulationR,*informinffthem of thotneasurca whidi th;q^ had se-
solved upon for avertmgthe rain of the colony, and reqai^lng
diem to approve of and concur in these measures, ^ which ih
feet they were already part;ies, since cimtBln Di^ 'Gehteno^
dieir di^itityt ho^olroMlyitJcMnsented tpthdm in thm n^ne and
behalf. 'They thkcfoM required their eoacurr^tice and aitfst-
anceyknd requited thidmtorqfiairimiiMMliatelyto Cozoowith
their aitltt and hor^<8.^ Oonzalo wrote by the 8iun«>ooiiv05%ncc
to all the iidiabitants of La flota, eoUcitine their individual
-conouiTenee and aid. At this time, Luis <k Ribera acted in
die dty of I^ Plata as lieutenant to Vato de Oostro, die former
governor, and Antonio Alvarex^ another. inhab^nt of the
same i^ace^ held the ofiice of judge, ordinary* These men, on
liearinff of Uie transactions whiw had twen place at j Cuzco
immediately revoked the commission which had been given
ism*- vil* 8BCT. If. ijf Frmdteo Pinarro,
«ai
to C«nteno< as (iipQtyf I^niiii tbeu city, and mqI aD.Anpwer ta
dam »MeQcjr,«CjCiWCo inthe naioe of the whole joaJiUdoaC La
iPlitii dechurivfl that diev were feiplvfd Ui obey.jj^.onitn of
hli OMNeity^ |dlmou|[h itstouUl qo«t thein>tbeu
ties : Tnat their city had always preserved it%l9yaky^agl^bit
1^ wh<v had acted agmiist the royal authority^iiaiid they were
resolved to persist in the same line of conduct : ilnt Ceni^
had only been auth^jLised to concur in thdlr name to^ su^
measures as oiightappear couduciveto thie service of hismaKsty,
the advantage of his dominions} and the preservation m the
natives of the country j and since, in the^ection of Ckmzak),
and the other measures whidi had been resolved i^n atGuzco,
they saw no tendency towards those things whid) had been
confided to Centeno, they couid not be imtwcated in tibe con-
,sent which Centeno had given beyond his ^gitimate ppwcps,
jior were they to be considered as bound to ratify what he hiid
done in their name, as every thing which had been done was
contrary to the orders and instructions which- they had given
him;
■.^ This letter did hot contain the universal sentiments of the d-
^Uzens of Xa Plata, in which Gonzalo had several friends, who
'used their endeavours to gain over the inhabitants to his side»
and to engage them to jdn his ariuy. They even endeavoured
m(are than on6e to kill Ribera and Alvarez, but these officers
used suchpreofuitions as to bafile ^ i\^ attempts, libera
and Alvarez waited potieptly for receiving theregulationa from
U)e viceroy j but owing to the great disMuice of pieir cil^ from
Lima, these had not y^t notched tbem< ^i the mean IJOie,
they «omnuu;ide4 all the inhabitants, under se^vere penH^m,
to remain in La Plata ; yet several of thein left the city and
joined the reqaonstrants at Cuzco. .^ '
ilie vic^rpy mode his entry jsriUi graa^ popnp» in the: month
: j>f May ] 544, jnto Lima, where no pne diurcd to qseak to him
0|t the subjecjt of su^n^ng the obnoxious re^^ulations. The
mag^stra^ indeed, had already made theu respectft^ re-
monstrances imd supplications^ luleging substantuil re^spas
why Uiey ought to b^ suniemded, but aJl iu vain* He en^^ag-
ed mdeed, iwter the r^guU^ns should h|ive be^ olprried mto
effect^ that he would w|ite to his miy^ty, representing that
^ it was for the interest of the crdwn, as well ois for the advan«
twe of the natives of the country, that they should be re-
,.^edj and thctf those who had dnMirn them iqi w^re cer-
'ttittlyigiiorBDt of the true state of the coufitry, oir they could
• never
IM
'■''.tH^yi^y^'
¥jmihWbatL^,
_ . _ __ __ ' In ■flBio#^
d«|^«tttoi^ilMi»l» MMfto Wmfroih iB iMffts bfl%Hir,1ft»fa^
WtfMlirith^hombttwMkl^te tti the kin(( ilriittt mMit
00 |»ra|i«r ottHie tnMMd i '•a4 HMffl^^iMeai h6 i^mMf Ifflki
'But tet Me MiMiiot of Ms own oiltlierky - tti4>ii^ th« dii^
eota «f tlA (MrdiiniNi^ and tiimt o6iit&ra« Id Mt air he had
altvadt^olie^ as hk orAen left hilii no dtofee liut khIbiMte
«bidi«iK» t« the »«ry4! irtitrtdSwifc ' ' '"f*"^^^^
At ddi finke tlMree of the judgin of th^ c6iitt of aiiiUeiMse,
@(^ediB Ahranz and Texada, arrilftd at Unfia, leaving Ortiz,
^a (Aier jiidga^ liiek at TVukiUo. The viberoy iaaked hfHttis
tMltadrdew wtlteinaugttratten of thefoyid€ourt'of Ai»dicii6e}
ibr MilcAi iMirpoae all we neceMary prefxarBtiODs weipe liiade
ibt the ceieinn reception of die inyvi aeal, as ankl on tihe
AriteatabliiitMM or this high tribnnaL The seal ^was placed
in a ridi casket, carried by a horse saperhly caparisoned tirid
«iiM«redhy^htti»ii!|g;s of doth of goId» and fed under a canopy
of' thte swneiiildidkl inMerioH hdd np by the inarkftrat^
of the- ^itjr msed iH' flowhig rbbes o^ erittison t«Vet, hi
Ae same ceremony as is used in %)ain on the wt!^ of the
khw in person into ahy of the dtiea: On tiiis oocadoii, Juan
Iteuon led the horsey benMrappdnt^ todildattoiis c^aa-
!!eiettDr, in dte phce of the Marquis de Camarissa, presidait
«f OmoiIi, iwho thM held the ieds lit Spain. Aftettld^ph>-
^!«iiiM», thoeottti of andienob #!«' instilled, and jiiMieeeded
ittiiiH^diattolylobttshMsii but a sub^ctf dispute soon arose
' iMAiraen tile viceroy aAd^eJut^gii, which renewed the db-
^ienti<ms which had arisen bd^sreoi them even befere thtif ar-
ffM'in Fleruj thee^lfaiatiimofwhfch retjolrei some d^aiL
'. Whim (hie ^ tfoeioy tlrived at the Ihmbo or palaoe of
^^^hiavm *, whMte h« wiked tiB h0 iH» stare dthAag radeiv^d
^^ Lfana, ht Ibund wtfften <m oiie'of th^ widii of «ie mubo
• lb the IfaHoUHng effect: *• Whoever nii^«ftideklvonr to diepilve
" me of ttf house and prMperty, I dicfl i^dtvonr 16 dttnrii^ bf
4ife/' itto 4bifaMdated l|isa«phtentift M theil^llhDi^ some
time { hott bdn^ aftariiarfJi pinsBllMted tluit thilse 4ptAi had
• « fttte tiMn sfcssAr liWliiiiHH i1»rtin<fste, Iflnit tB» fc W^fcfcHr a
Lpftnat srdHfn|ilif te 8sB«n> Sfilscc A«arnk«iil»io.iitsai3^lWf
CiUPt flKlKi; V.
'to.
IWQ at liim*; la • nriml*
ygnwwning ^hpM woNUfwiiiah i^hMlMev «iiitb»i«Niiii of thto
perpqanlly with rough wtoliwiwi i Thfl% wKJiwaa ihc |pilmH<f
tlui piUaoe to be ihut,. the mccfajr ■cnifer one of Wi nfiwiklwi
to oqpftii SoImv dedariiBjar ^t reiohition .toiMWH» hint ttUno»
diately hanged from one (Stdie.pfUan^^of a galkryfiiiiMiqgidte
0ceat)aquare of Lima. Solar renuwd to .cimM hfaniiil^ (and
we4iiPUteooitfiniied lo loog that -newt of what mw-goiiar
JQHrwroi lyraad over the city, ott which die awhhiAap »m
■ome other pecMms of quahj^ came to thofialaeataad' hwlMy
raqueatied the viceioy to defer the execiitioo» >'At)fliitha'«»'
stinatelypenistedin^hii intentioiLt bat at hut oMiented Id
poetpone the exeontion till next day, and eeat IkdMP toyilmi
loeaed with SsUea* .On ^ aMurtow, the angar of thtt vioaMiy
was«omewhatapp«aMd, aothathadidnoc naawhle brdm
for han^^ Solar, but detwned hiai Sat two moodii Hi|iriaon
and ia irons,, without any infoipation or ftoam nyaflhig
hiitcrime. • ■ -• "'••■'^
Afi«r the inatalladon of the oonrt of atidienoe^ the JQ^^
went on a Saturday to visit^the prison j and hwring been m-
formed of the. foregoing drcumstanoes by a judicial BOlMr
requ^pMientedtolhMiiion the subject, tbi^ d^oaaniid' to
see Sfilkxt mhom they asked the cause of hia in|irisoipMi»{
to which he. answered that he knew nothing about tha>MJtlar.
On esaninatian, they fovnd no imioeai against iS(4ar<i and
the jailor and' rc^sti»r» were eo^ able to say tiMt the vicemy
hiaii mrmi orders for his impnaonmcnt. On the enauiiK
Monday, the judges represented to the fioesoy that they had
found no procfm or infonnations against Sotar, and could
only leam as the reason of his impnsonroent tiMt h was fay his
orders i and coniequgntly, hariag no d«cumenl» to instruct
the iaviulness of . his detention, .they- eoidd not in hnw'or equity
do otherwise than oiid^ him to be set at liber^ T^ viocrey
said that Solar hrd been arrested-fay his orders^ and that he
had even been inclined to have hanged him, on account of
the writing on the wall of the tambo, and because of Ihb per-
, tonal inipRaice when there was no witntesstA present i -Wiev-
ing^ by his sole authority as viceroy, that ha had the power
of
VAMtiuveoftm
tnilt«£>i(»dMin( Um to bs hngtii m^Aaait
rJht MoeirilMititflgmM than aaywujiitferiik
>)ilb lbi» th» joiptiMe aiMwer, thai li»«iitlM>>
fy wliind ao 'to' t juitie»«nd Iht laws
dTllii hiiMjiipi aUowacL- ; A» tfa» vinvov ud tlMf.<«oiild' not
•ftfimimmt[fdm^^fAmk>ikimtkU^^ on tbo^lri-
rkirnw fiilqKlM^v^livdvdMW <Sekir ^ bo Ubmtad, deairinff
unHeracratt in hM'4»#a4ioiMei ond
ifrjfiiiftt— ,. thajr Mt Un ontirefy «t libivty.
^ lEbft iAkiroy Mao mnah chagrined I7 thiVafikont^ mdaottg^t
'■IW(B|iMidy4bfra«.q|ipMrtnaity joC bewg ravenged, for whidnhe
4hoi^|M'<^ H^OKiDgi dfCNknatance gava him a fiiyouraUe
opapingi* iTba iliroB jodgea lodged aaparately with tome of
riba libiNC iahabitanu of Xina, who Bhewise provided tbak
^lijbhikt iMl iiniiidMd every, thing that waa neoeMfuy hr thani^
•aalveataadb tbdr wnranta. At fixat this was dene with ^a immi-
«aeitt>nf >tba vioett>y>. till aach time oa thcnr might be able to
ifidonn aodto^fiurniih hoviaea foe then^hrcs. Ai^ the di^-
'yteaBonnftfning SoImt, thaviocvi^ cauaed them ^.obeinform-
•d^fthattit^idiiriiei aeem to him aomiatant with decorum that
rtbayibonid Inra atttiiie e^qpenao oltim citisens» whidi would be
IMBna>rilydiyl>iaaingtoihiawMeity»andthatefoig that thqr ought
to look out for houKs for tfadr accommodation: Anidtmit,
buidfiij he did not approve of their walking about the staeets
•in temamj with the merchants and otirar uihobitants of the
Ititf. '; Tbe jndgea made answer, tha^ they had not been able
to fiad ij^ houses for hhra, and that th^ weina under the ne-
amsity of *waiting till some then building were finislied 1 That
IB foluiw WBf would live at their own chaiges : but aa to
waOf^win tMstneatawith thai inhabitants, it was ndther a
craninal nor a forbidden conduct^ nor in any w»^ improper ;
na even in Spain the members of the royal councd, or ot any
other tribuia], were in use to do the same^ whi^ was even
nsefol, aa in that way the merchants had an oppcntunity of in-
forming or reminding them of their affiurs. The viceroy and
die Ju^(ca were always upon bad toms, and their misunder-
Irtandii^ broke out into cuq>utas on evevy occasion. It is said
that at one time the licontiate Alvarez, one of the judges* pre-
ferred aa oath to a procurator or attorney, reqieoing a Inibe
which he had given to Alvaree de Cueto, brother-in-law to
the viceroy, for his< interest to obtain the iqapointment By
tlus fMrocedure of Almarez, the viceroy is said to have be«n
greatly (offimd^,
During
Auur. ¥11. nor. 1 1. ^ JI%i*ienw»aW— iw.
g
r' DnriaeiAttlib'tfan, Urn
ttMraffdaCuMo hMlbMB fivtpdl t
^^BfwviMMr mMintBil ibr tlMtcfOppoM^
could te iMd att Xinui of i^ail^^ immirndBd^mm .tmmmg^- Hmsw-
mommaU. k-WM oiiiy» Ibmvm i& Gi^psslftkl^agrMr]^
linne to CXiMO^«BditliM«U; those ^.^ had wUxdrtmu^Aom
Lima and other places in the plain had repaired to thttifaMlK
plaoa in cKpeetation of a< civil war« The ▼ieero^ andiWy
of the royal audience ifnuodtbeis joint prockioaaticmioraaraw,
in the name of the kiiig, all the faihahitanta of Guoo, aiid^ne
other cities of Pwni, to reeoynite ood . mbmit touj^Noo
Nunnei 8» viceroy* and to repair with thwr iamikandthqwai to
■ Liaia to- offer tMr aervicefl. Moat of these procibmatinns
Krertfikwt hpF the way ; but that which was m/attotrh^. Plata
■ was more fortunate^ and, by virtue of ka^authoiity, JaulMle
Bibeni} Antonio AlvareS} and the other magistrates mod «f-
fioers of that city, proolaimed Blasco;NuQne8twttb< muoli;>«e.
cemony and great r^mdngs: And, int-testimonjrttf their aab-
wiw^n »o his authorltv^ meyequqiped twenty-five honemei,
being all the city ciNild spfre^ who were seat to Join the vicmoy
. undor the ooraBoaiid of Csiptain Luis de Ribera.. Lest .€UA-
zalo might cut cfi'tbeirpassageandianest then on their maaeb,
Ribora made his way towaras Lima by a desert and unfte-
quented'read. ;.' > -■.■■, ^ -i .,■ J. ^ .■■■:. >i-.',v
Some even, of the iiihal^nts of Cusco got a^ies of. Ae
proclamation, in consequence of .wlach sevetid ef thtinvve-
■ paired seecetly to Lima to o£R9r th«ir services to the aieeroy,
as will ba more particularly specified in ^ sequeK -... By» their
mcfuis the vicooy beeame acquainted mUht the transaotKHiaat
Guico, on which aoeount he fiiund bimsdf under the naoes-
sity of using every effort to increase his forces by means of
additional bvies i for whicb puipose he ibrtunatefy possessed
ample funds, as Vaca de Castro had embarked upwards, of
100,000 orowns which he had drawn from Cusco to transmit
to the kini^ which the viceroy took possessicm of and employ-
ed for the equipment and pay of his troops. He appointed
< Don Alfonso de Montemayor and Diego Alvwrez de Cueto,
who .vi^ his own brother-mflaw, captains of hone ; Martin
de Robles raid Paul de Menezes captains of foot} and Gonzalo
PiqZ'de PJgnera captain of musqueteers. Vela Nunnezy his
1 Own brother, was made captain-general of the troops, Diego
de Urbina maestre de campo, or major general, and Juan de
- Aguire serjeantpnu^or, or adjutant general. Witlwut ittchid-
irig
v-J
V,
I
I
i
■ :
i
govenHMT, wbom be bMi lately alkHTMl to IM • priMwr
atJarge OB parole not to Imvo tbe oity, and biUefing tlMM^he
iMid MNne wcral intdligenoe with his fonaer friMcU nd «!»•
popdnt^ tbe viotraj ordered a fiilae alerm <nie daj' abiit
aooB* npoxtii^ tbet OoamIo wet neur at hand i aadiriNii
dM troope were all assembled m ibejneat sqaare, be sent his
bvotber-molaw, Diego Alvares de Mido to airast Vaoa de
Gaatvo, AMb» Mnelune be arrested Don Pedro deCabiwa,
HamaD M«Kiad« Qaitiian,Lorenf»de iUdami) M ddiior R*-
mkm, and Bakasir Banifes bis brotheiwBi'bnr» ali of wbom
beaent prnoaem ^ boord a sbm comandedbfjf Jeraakiio de
Ziitbano. A few days afterwarda, be set Loreiico de AUaiia
atlibei^, and sent off Cabrera and Mcxia to ftnamft,and
tb» two Ramirei to Nleareanuu Vaoa de^Castro^ teasliined
nriiODer in tbeebipf ndtber be «kv an y of the real bebig in*
fomed of ■ wbfit dM^ were aocnaed^ «or wMre tm iufciwalians
or bMr-pvDc«Bses made respecting tlMm. - While these' civil
discords, were going on, two sbipa loaded with merobaisdise
arrived at tbe port bcIongiKa to Areqoiptf ^, fadb of wlMk
were purchased by Gonzalo Fwatro, with theintnitioii of em-
ploying them to tiansport bis artiUery, and for getting pos-
sesaicii of tbe harbour of Lima, and iieinng thediips briengfaig
to the viceroy^ believing that whoever wa» mastn* of tbe sea
•long die coast of Peru roustrOonMoland the eountfy« by beVMRff
it in his power to bod in any unguarded place and lb d» ui
tbe mischief he pleased, on aceount c^ tbe prod^;iooB ;e«efit
of coast. By commanding at sea« be would iike«^ have been
enabled to procure «rms aqd horses from the vessels which tfre
^tral harbours, thirty or fcrtf milei ditunt. — £.
«Hi*W i?IL
fl*
^'Mwmtmi^zarro,
Mtl
l»«t««tt f mull floiiBB thef IwtflpAi irkh^ nnftliiirtiw
4ar «lMr MnpMift 4^ fcwraif lhttOe«M>te->aJ parAMid
dblNiitdt frjMrlMt tknr mkibt
««• ildpi«i4«ii fHmidaiivMi Mtfhivt
.j0t iMtook tbe belt! Bnwiiuwteiili pBnni>'t#>fiiplfi#fa»
^dafince. He •yipipcd, llMMlbnt •Heitf the vcMlfn tfee|wit
itStmati wlikklie armed with eigirt hnm eenoon and iome
4Hlien of VNMi with tevenl ■nwqiMii oad crolM bowt,' tfupxAM-
ing. JoNHunio de Zsrbeno to the oomnand, wilii oMm tt>
m^the b«itreu«taiioe he eonld agHrat the thifie of GoMiJo.
Forimolefy these jpreparationtbreaoakeiiDD^ociMayt Ibr tUa
(MfHaihf Alfonso 4e la Ca^om and Jeroninio db la CaMi,
whftdaidt in Araqiiip«» weat aecretfy by «ig|ht OB boandlhe
t«oahJ|ia which Gonaato had mirehaMed,«ild«hioh ^muku^
wailing for their; artitteiyi and by laitge bribes to^tkoaiiiMab
and aBarinefs got poNeMioD of them for lft« vloeroyi Aad,
abandoniM^iheit homes laads«iid lodiansk they immorBilghr
aet tail iurUvoau On their anrifral off the harbour aS^Mi,
the vioorby got notioe of their iqsproadi from ionocaiiliilids
who wove itatioiied in a ncadibouring islaii^,^ arid hafiii(| ip
dooibl that ibsy were cBOBues* he iannediitoly set out fla*i
liiut at the bead of a body of eairal^. la tbe natantiii^,
ZMbanJR diaebaiged Ua artiUesy aaainiC the two ahipa^''«hieh
I— wdiitalylwwndtliairaiasin tw^ea ofyjce^ iad seataome
of dMhrfaira onr Aove in « boat to sorrettda^'fte'iKpate Ae
vioeray. • Thia oboinnstaiwe gaYemiaeh satisfitettoB m the
flBevayaad oi Uie inhabitanta of Lbna, aa it MiivedthMi
^finns is ilaoger of wbfck Ui^ w«re in ginaat feer;
'While. tmse things weregoinff on-^ Goocalo PiaarrolefiBd
tmopa at Cluac^ which he C8rm% arrtied and disdi^inad,
and toadecmryiiaecsRary |Hre|iaraJCidn for war. He assemhted
• body vSdOQmmi of which be i^pointcd Alfoaitd de Ton>
au|ioe<g*neral,> ngdiiingrtbe chief coniinaBd in perlotu- He
dtmeabls«a«aliyibito t«» tnxmiii oi^e of which bigavetlw
eennBaBd4af io Umt Pedro ^ !Porto^Garrero,< placntg him-
srif aft the haad' flf the other. Ganiie)» and the badbetor Juan
BelcB da Giie««ra» were apbuiated captains of two ooaafMnies
of piheroea,}. and Captain Pedro Ceiioeno had the conaaawi
of the auMqueteers. He had three standards, one havii^ ^e
iOyal anns^ whidi was given to Porto Ganero; a smooI
baring the arms of Cmzco was confided to Antonio de Alta»
mirano,
■
vl
m
IDloHfiuti ^P^ ¥AWfii. Bboit ir.
laitMO, ikildef of Ctiioo, 'iHrwi li^ ^fterwirdt bbheadBd m
indfaa^to'tHarotil Intnrdtt: the third, beiwili^ hii own
anaii «il «MMed V his eMign i b<it wi* afUHMu&lgMrMi to
OKptdA Bidro de Riellai. Tenttmhld BachieMr mk made
eonfmaader of th« artilleiir, comis^ of twenty «MeU«Bt
iteld«f>ieota^wlth i plenliM Mp|il^of ^dMdr, failb, and every
oCli# weedhai«»>'fiirtblit' iertfce; ' '
Otk»dp MiraatoanNl lb SBeure the troopa' fai^' hli intoreit,
oovaftiffhii dca^iBk and endeaToai4ngtojuatify'Uis erimhui
enterj^me by the moit liMoious pretexts. Htmag asseoibled
hh afmy he 0MKle a loi^ haranoue to tiie«oklien, in wMth
hereinresehted, ** Thathieand his brothersrU wasweH Itn6iinito
tomeatit&f had discovered the kin^om of Peru, which 4hey
hkd rednctid under thedomiiiion of the king at their imn proper
charges, and had already remitted very'large snms in gold and
sHvir tohis nu§escy { v«t, after the death of the marquis^ thb
• kintf had iiot oonferrea the government of the oonntiy,' either
OKttM'sori of themirqois, or on him who now addreabcd than,
itt ought'to have been don6 in conformitv with the pronliatfs
and agreaij^ntawbidi had been made at the first discov«iby,hnt
had cNren iait'achKt:ahd ii^exiblepersbfa atthis time t»sinp
id ofthem of their* property, as it was qtrite obvious ihatevei^
person in Bsru came indtnr the scope (rf'the obnoxiottv rc^-
latbns; Biasoo Nonnes Vaca, ta whom the exeention' of thdK
firtal iiegnlations Was confided, oMsed them to be pat in fixrce
widr the utmost ry^bur, not only refiwh^ to 'listen tot^remeh-
stiMioes. and pdlitions the most reneetfiu, but treating*ev«fy
onehandiry who prestnned to offtr the inl»t humble rvpr^Mn-
tations a|^mt thdr execution ; of all nMeb, and* many other
things of a like nature,! every one who bcsiitl him wfrei^e
to tntify. Besides which, it was pubfiddy ^en our, thafe^c
vfeero^liad -orders tp cut off his head i 'aithong^ it it^slfwdl
known to' thnn all that he had not onljr never dme any thing
contrary td the service of the kin^^ but had alwavs CcnducteS
himiself with the most teafeus loyal^. kte. all these reasons,
add by the consem and' appointaoent of t||iicity of Cuaoo, he
had itemAved to go to limai to make m ^ip^bmntaikm cf thdir
grievances to the royal au^ioice, add hutabUy to siffdicate
a sttspenaion of the ruinous regnlationsy that tithe m^t be
ffiven fiv sending deputies to tbeking^the namfrknd va bb-
julf ofthe whofe kingdom of Peru, tio,4iafdnn hie nugcs^ of
the true itate of affiurs, and of what seemed neoewary to be
dime in the present conjuncture } havii^ no doub^^ when 'his
majesty
citAfk fii. sscT. II. ijf J^andteo Fixarro,
SOB
SM^etNy WM tivHy infiMrmcd, that he woaU deviaft a tuitablji
'If hbwevcn afMr utiiig ihUr utmoit •ffiNrt% fab aia*
wM itm tbink proper ta entbiiee the n{gulat{bil% b«
i au ulrith whom he afitttl would Umd obe^ the raya^tnderi
with the most entire and^ ui^reierved subn^ion. Hit <tptt
yioamtif and ^oinpedffahoe before the vioeroj» oonsidevfaig'' tlie
miinacee^^Af that offioer and the trbope which hphadltfiedJ
^vcrvcMNuly atteilkded with^ the utmott dange^' tt> MoMcu
and an^ho should' acoomtiMiy hkn^' iinle«lie and they ihedd
ht in a ittiiation t6 dcfena tbemielf«s from ' lawleu ifMenoe.
For iftflg reaton it had been deemed incUnensablyi^eciMar|^tbat
hoimd ihe otlier depotieetihoukl be acompamed bpr ateifyol
trobpi^ whid»'tlie3^>nad not'the moit'dlstant intentions WF«lkH
plowing to iiyaire any peibon, unlaw they were attacked. * lie
totre^cl themv cheretoi«, to aecompanv hhii in hivj^nlrbcyib
liktmt oihd to oMerveduritig their marcn the ttricteii«ud mart
v^gilaurdtidpltncy iand tliat diey might be awnred,ihft and
thoto'Otherfletotleinan who. acted alongwlth him^'woiddtiWaid
thesflibtfrauy for their toil anid bravery, in 'endUing them to
ad WlUi effbet for preserving ihe propoties of oU ficom rubk"
By 'thii' specioy disconne, in <whicfa Gk>nttil6 endeatoiured
to persuade hit troops that his ci^ wa« just mid hb intcB-
timis pure^ a eonsiderable effpc^ n^aa prodhced, anJd hia ko^
dicrs unaniin6u»ly declared their determination to follow and
defend him at the ride of their lives. He then marched out
frbmXkiEco, accompanied l^ aU the iiihabitants of that ckvi
and ^ving put his tiroops in proper order,^ he gave pennu-
sion that same evening to several of the citi*eiis| aa.had been
previottdhr concerted betweoi them, to return on purpose to
prqiMre Mr die journey. Next morning earty^ tw«nq^viQ of
the most einii^ent citiaens» who had first given their assent to
the supf^icatfons against the obnoxious regolationsy coneider-
ing that the steps whidi were now taking were cviminal aoad
rraelKous, anuA dreading the injurious consequences which
they would necessarily produce in Peru« came'to die resohi^
tion dT abandoning the party of Oonzajo and o^ing thmt
services to the viceroy. They inkmediat^ set about .execo*
ting this design, and went by louff journeys throi^ unfre-
quented ways in the deserts ana mountains, lest Oonzalo
might order them to be pursued, which he actually did.
The principal persons in this defection were Oabnd de
Ij^oias, and Gomez de Rpias his nephew, Gaixilasgo.de la
Vi^a, Pedro del Barco, Martin^ de Horencia, Jtef onuno de
Soria, Juan dc Saavedra, Jeronimo G>stilla, Gomez de Leon,
Luis
510
CiM^MMl •/' Pern rAtT II. SOOK If.
I?
Ltii de Lteii* ^Mid Padro Mm^i^ *. On «Min| <mI
tnm Otwoy ihigr cinrM vith them the orOtn tiicy MM m-
Mifpd ftoiii tb« ffogral Midi«nocw by whidk thcv «m* «i|Btoti
|o teo^l^ in Li«i*co libiilh to the suAori^ o# Ilk tIo»-
l^PlMii OooMbirMiaforaMa «f thbfliotable de|hetlq«fiNM
hb cuaet hg^ «!hh)h all hfti tlp»pi ifii»<rf>Teiy caeiidwiibhr
diiw<ertwV, he va»«bttMt in the idImI I9 have •headoaed
hlte«l«|itte. Mid to wkbdraw bto the dlMriet <# CSbroM
wilh idMot m hotMBMn of hk Mt etteohdd iH«idi» to
Mfr MMMeirthcn m urell ei be <«Nikl 1 but *fl^ metMe re^
iirtw, he <JDMidcred it at iMidttogeivut to fi>lkm Ui firal
imiilione» andtocontinne the march ^r I4aii* Bwhi^
tdlni thia molHtioa, hd eadeavoured to eoopam^ hii tro«fM|
hr telftqg tbifm that the deacrten wti« amine^ iH-infoimea
of the dve state of aflhin at Lima, ai be h#d letteit flwn tte
■riadpal Inhahitantt of that eity» aMuring hifti that, with
i% honanen od^, he might caiUy bring hia eDter|Hriae t» »
happgr leoiichition, and witbontWnrring the aMife«i<daMar»
ai aJllhe d«h»iats entertained the Mune MOtlnienta with han*
Ind oafy needed his ooaMenanoe and direolioii to, dechire
themtiplviel. He cdntfaMcd hit Mudi aoondiitg^* but >ery
abwljr ind with infinite iUkdUfi on tecodnt eT uie entreme
Jbbout.wMbhwaaveqiiiaitofcr'hriiwingibrward hit ntiiUei^.
Attthooannon and warlike atoWNhaato be caniad en the
fhiKddaf* of IwiiaaB, % alcam of ielircra or lona spam fi»r
wlfieh purfNMe the gon* were taken olT from their earriagai*
and it ril|alred twwre faidiima to each oun, wlip were hairaly
dUeto go aAwTe a himdi^il |>aeet nndtr their lond, when
Hbm wcf* lelierdd bj an equal number. Qn iMa aee^imt,
S60 Indiaite were mugned to eaich |(ttn> io tUt the artilleK^r
idotit^ laith ita aamiMutiita and stmret* iitqoirfd abtwe 6000
indiima to eaadnet it oter the monntaitis.
Sbfond ffentluMi and other persona of tiottdderatiaii' who
OonsaJo* bwaik to repent of being feegaoed in
». They luuf concnrred with the Ivst at flhe bfe*>
({Huunfft 'in Uie proprie^ of femonstrating ajgainst the execn-
tion of die otmoxioos regnlatMnis, aod nod ^ta offered to
risk
(
«f thM
di b Vcgt ^Mbr» toiaewlutt in the nsna* of fna or two
MB who daurttd from Gkmialo, tai oadDMntet • om-
dwf
iiM(% aawy. whom bo namm oat Fedro Pizmo» Myipig
fa A Aaat faitf, with aisny of whom hews* perwntll^ aqpisin-
II.
■I
n
%
M
to
r«l
be
illi
^«
tfi
m*
ire
»y
nc
be
Ebr
at*
S
00
in
to
ik
nil'
ciUf* '«U* ■■CI'* II* bjf i'lfutciwt PtMarro,
«iU
'
rMktb«irl&vctand fortune* in that metiurei bnton,
the tvra vhidi tAin had taken, and that Gooialo i^
aiwmd an anthoritj to which lie had no pretcnikNMi tbi^
wiahed Nnorrelj to get away from the engaa^Mntt intovl)^
tk^ had emend. Before leaving Cuzco, 0(»iiah> bad teiped
tbe treaaura balQi||[ing to the arown« not only vrithon^ tlie
oMMnt and anriiority of the magistrates, but oontrarv to their
adrfoe Jind desire. They were anxiously deunxMK tt)erefo|«ii,
of relncinff the dangerous and criminal steps which they had
taken, andthe rallier because they alrmay believed that it
wodd be unsnccesiful. Oaspard Rudriguea J>e Campo-rondo,
the fandbar of the deceased Captain Pedro An«urea, and who
had woceedod to tlie management of bis estate and Indiaos,
was the leader of these persons who wished to return to ikfjx
duty. He and the rest concerted with each other bow thcj
B^dgbt best abandon Ooncalo and join the viceroy ^ but they
were soBMrwhat afraid of trustii^ implicitK to Blinoo Kuni^eCy
in oQoaideration «f the extreme severity or his character, war>
ing that he might punish them for the share they had taken
hitnevio in the insurrection, notwithstanding of wis their in-
tended tardy abandonment of Oonzalo. For this reason ih^
resolved to lake effectual measures for securing on indenmity,
and sent ol^ by a secret and nnfrvquented roa^ letters for the
viceroy and the audience, in charge of a priest named Qal^
tasar de Loayia, by wh'Ji they craved poiidon for the pant
and a safe conduct for their compearance at Lama ; add^
ing, that, as they held smne rank in the ini^urgent uaajf
being ciptaina Wliar Oonzalo, bU their iricndi and deoeo*
«]cnts TBom, be axpeetoil to follow their example* Vy whiflh
ia all prebability. the army of Gon^ak) woukl fiul to me^ea of
itsel£ Besides Rodviguea, PhUip Gutiercz, iVrias Maidoinado»
Ftadro do Vila-Castiiv and others to the number of twe^y-
iive, eoncunred k, this phm of abandoning Gonzah).
Loayaa wint in all haste to Lima, aaaa, for the better con-
cealment, he avoided uniti^>^ himself with Gabriel de Roias
and the others who had fonaerly set out firom Cuzco to ioin
the viceroy. On his arrival at Lima, he ioamediately oeli-
vered his dispatches to the viceroy and the audience, and re-
ceived without delay the safe conduct which his employers re-
quired. The news of this aftir was soon i|>read over Lima, in
which many of the inhabitant* and othon secretly wished well
to the party d Gonzalo, as conformable to their own interest }
and th^ were therefore a good deal mortified at the defection
among
\
l
><<
(
M^ Conqkea of Pem^ PAST If ; aooB iii ^
8nioil| tbe itisitiscttts, wliicb they soppMed wnald «iaiPi(^bcMiM
skM^ tn« ^y ^ Qonzfldd'to diiperte j «ift(ff ♦hiolii' ibi^Jirice^
rqy W(mki;aOTUrediy «ariy the reg«lrtioils^Mi»^^ileoi^^
tjji^'titttMMt rigottf, :f^heti thM« was no eneif^ iqppOM MiK. ' ^r
' ''^t tlid (fiMi^%M Vne viteroy wik8'f«*0iired M Ltem^ IMm
dc PJwU^ '%l|b WM vlieotenint «# (Ptiaiiiic»>'«nd«r Vm« d«>
Cai^o, ^dBl# MRoui^ «ii6 at^^poy Hii gUipiliaoliti dod to '
leti^f btdiml^ion 16 his Rtitfaority* A*<)te had^^Mli^ 1«^
in 1^1^ Aiiil iiad gretit experienM in the aifiiiiii oftChitrMmtr^
di^'liieenyy gaivei him aifew commiwion, byofaidt wf^nwil^'
firm^ in tile lieutenancy of Gtianuccs to wbic^ city>li^!iMUi
sent back^ with onIer» to hold tbtf mhi^tanta lb rem&mt ^
taker the field with their horses and anns in oase ofvaeed;
PtMlIes not only prepared the peq>le of his govemmettt for
tannff^the field, but even retained in his pi^ sinno soId«lv*
who' had come from the province of Oha^Iuqpoyas along ivilb
Gmnez ' de Soliz md Bonefaz. Thinking it necessary' ta
strengthen hia array as much as possible to <^>pose Oonaalov;
who was now marching toward^Lihia, thevicson^ sent Jero-
nuno deVi^fegas with a letter ccnmandingPaeiles' to jo^n Una
without delay with all his force. On the arrival ofViilDgaaAlt
Gnanueo, he and Puellea ccmsnlted together on the state of
affiiirs^ and concluded that if they shouul join the viceroy they
woold'^ve a decided superiority to his ricte; and f^^Un?
defeat of Gonsab} having no one to onkmc him, the viceroy
wodd then cause the regulations to be enforced in their
■tdiost rigour, by which tnb whole cobnb^ of Peru would
snffear extreme^ injui^ ; as by depriving them of thmr Indians^
not only the Uii^gesseft to whom they bdoi^ad' would be re«
dticed to poverty, but even the soldiers wotjld bo materially
injured, as the burgesses would be no longer in coodiUoh to
Inmish subsistence tothe tro<ms as now/r-'Tbli^ oamd toihii
resolution therefore; to join the pai>^ of Gbnando^ and set
out immediately in search of his army~fbr that purpose.
• .'■•'.. -• ■■ .. ., -■,■•" i , '. -io
£KO OF VOIfUMIK lOU^TlH*
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